4 COVID-19 deaths announced in Beaufort Co. Thursday, 2 more reported in Jasper Co.
Thursday marked one of the Lowcountry’s deadliest days of the pandemic.
Four COVID-19 deaths were announced in Beaufort County on Thursday. Two fatalities were also recorded in Jasper County.
One person from each of the counties was described as middle-aged, according to state health officials. The rest were described as elderly. All of the deaths occurred in January.
State health officials also announced 171 new COVID-19 cases in Beaufort County on Thursday. Nine probable infections were recorded, as well.
The area has reported a surge of cases throughout December and January, mirroring other spots around South Carolina and the rest of the country.
The local outbreak has recently been at its worst point since March. Hundreds of cases were recorded earlier this month, shattering the previous single-day record on Jan. 8. Deaths are still quickly mounting, in comparison to last fall. And the county’s seven-day average of new cases was 105.2 as of Thursday.
Hospitalizations, though, remained steady in the local area last week, despite a surge of admissions elsewhere in the state.
Vaccines are also slowly being distributed to local health care workers, seniors and residents and staff at long-term care facilities.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital on Thursday began to vaccinate 1,000 people at a drive-thru clinic outside Beaufort High School Stadium. Registrations were required beforehand.
Vaccine data
DHEC’s daily Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna data were not updated as of about 2 p.m. Thursday.
Local numbers
Viral test results reported Tuesday (the most recent date for which data is available): 876
Average percentage of positive tests in the past week, as of Tuesday: 25.2%
Total cases: 11,612 confirmed, according to DHEC
Total deaths: 125 confirmed, according to DHEC
Two-week cumulative incidence rate as of Tuesday: 875 cases per 100,000 people, a “high” rate under DHEC’s definition. An incidence rate measures how quickly a disease is spreading through a given population.
Dr. Scott Curry, an infectious disease specialist at the Medical University of South Carolina, has previously said counties should aim to have a two-week incidence rate of less than 50 new cases per 100,000 people.
Statewide numbers
Percentage of positive non-antibody tests reported Tuesday: 24.9%
New cases announced Thursday: 3,363
Total cases: 366,149 confirmed
New deaths announced Thursday: 39
Total deaths: 5,768 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 3,323 cases in the past year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 1,817 cases since March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Hilton Head’s 29928 ZIP code, covering the southeastern part of the island, has 847 cases. The 29926 ZIP code on the north side has 1,464 cases, according to DHEC data.
Okatie’s 29909 ZIP code, which includes Sun City Hilton Head, has reported 854 cases.
Coronavirus infections at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island are included in the 29902 ZIP code.
More information on Beaufort County ZIP code data can be found at the following link. Click on it, then click on “Go to Cases,” then click on Beaufort County on the S.C. map: bit.ly/BeaufortCountyZIP
What are DHEC’s recommendations?
State health officials say residents should continue to practice social distancing and should wear a mask in public.
People who are active in the community or those who can’t effectively social distance or wear a mask should be tested for COVID-19 monthly, according to DHEC.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow South Carolina’s coronavirus data is compiled
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control’s total COVID-19 case count includes anyone who has tested positive since the pandemic began. The data also include those who have recovered or died.
The state agency does not provide an overall, county-by-county number of cases versus the number of people who have recovered.
DHEC counts deaths based on where a patient lives rather than where they died.
