1 new COVID death reported in Beaufort Co. Thursday, 2 announced in Jasper Co.
Another COVID-19 death was recorded in Beaufort County on Thursday, and two coronavirus fatalities were announced in Jasper County.
The three people were described as elderly and died from last Thursday to Monday, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Forty-four new COVID-19 cases were also reported in Beaufort County on Thursday. Two probable infections were logged.
The area reported a surge of cases throughout December and January, mirroring other spots around South Carolina and the rest of the country. Hundreds of cases were recorded every 24 hours, shattering the previous single-day record on Jan. 8. Deaths also quickly mounted.
The seven-day average of new cases, though, has dropped in recent days. It was 79.1 as of Thursday. The average had hit roughly 113 on Jan. 14.
Jasper County, meanwhile, reported five new coronavirus infections Thursday.
Vaccines are also slowly being distributed to local health care workers, seniors and residents and staff at long-term care facilities.
Vaccine data
Beaufort Memorial Hospital as of Wednesday had utilized 92% of 7,910 first Pfizer-BioNTech doses received. That’s because some Pfizer vials have contained six or even seven doses, but DHEC calculates its utilization rates based on the assumption that each vial contains five doses, which was the original expectation late last year. The hospital has used 48% of 3,050 second doses.
Hilton Head Hospital had utilized 131% of 2,225 first doses. The hospital also had used 25% of 1,975 second doses as of Wednesday.
Coastal Carolina Hospital as of Wednesday had used 111% of 2,805 first doses. The hospital had utilized 15% of 1,425 second doses.
Pfizer’s vaccine uses a recommended two-dose regimen. The second shot is scheduled three weeks after the first.
Local numbers
Viral test results reported Tuesday (the most recent date for which data is available): 468
Average percentage of positive tests in the past week, as of Tuesday: 12.1%
DHEC on Tuesday announced that it was changing the way in which it calculates the daily percentage of positive tests to be more easily compared with information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among other entities.
“With the change, the public will notice a big drop in the number representing percent positive. That does not mean the level of spread in the community has decreased,” DHEC wrote in a Tuesday news release.
Officials on Wednesday said they are planning to release more information clarifying how exactly the two formulas are different and why the percent positive has dropped so significantly due to the change.
For context, the daily statewide percent positive reported Monday was over 20%.
Total cases: 12,803 confirmed, according to DHEC
Total deaths: 148 confirmed, according to DHEC
Two-week cumulative incidence rate as of Tuesday: 608.5 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: 10.1%
New cases announced Thursday: 1,649
Total cases: 403,928 confirmed
New deaths announced Thursday: 75
Total deaths: 6,730 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 3,685 cases in the past year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 1,934 cases since March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Hilton Head Island’s 29928 ZIP code, covering the southeastern part of the island, has 965 cases. The 29926 ZIP code on the north side has 1,695 cases, according to DHEC data.
Okatie’s 29909 ZIP code, which includes Sun City Hilton Head, has reported 974 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.
