3 new COVID-19 deaths recorded in Beaufort Co. Thursday; 2 announced in Jasper Co.
Three new COVID-19 deaths were recorded in Beaufort County on Thursday. Two deaths were also announced in Jasper County.
The five people were described as elderly, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. They died between Jan. 29 and Monday.
Twenty new coronavirus cases were also reported in Beaufort County on Thursday. Six probable infections were logged.
The area reported a wave 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 47.1 as of Thursday. The average had hit roughly 113 on Jan. 14.
The holiday surge following Christmas and Thanksgiving is abating, but experts worry that new coronavirus strains that are highly transmissible could hamper recovery efforts, even as vaccines are slowly distributed to local health care workers, seniors and residents and staff at long-term care facilities.
Jasper County, meanwhile, reported one new case Thursday.
Vaccine data
Beaufort Memorial Hospital as of Wednesday had utilized 107% of 8,575 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 41% of 5,000 second doses.
Hilton Head Hospital had utilized 146% of 2,440 first doses. The hospital also had used 54% of 2,060 second doses as of Wednesday.
Coastal Carolina Hospital as of Wednesday had used 137% of 2,805 first doses. The hospital had utilized 52% of 2,345 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): 317
Average percentage of positive tests in the past week, as of Tuesday: 10.3%
Total cases: 13,341 confirmed, according to DHEC
Total deaths: 155 confirmed, according to DHEC
Two-week cumulative incidence rate as of Tuesday: 467.9 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: 10.3%
New cases announced Thursday: 1,428
Total cases: 419,435 confirmed
New deaths announced Thursday: 84
Total deaths: 7,010 confirmed
Cases by ZIP code
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 continues to lead the county with 3,874 cases in the past year. Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code, meanwhile, has recorded 1,985 cases since last March, the second-highest figure in the county.
Hilton Head Island’s 29928 ZIP code, covering the southeastern part of the island, has 1,032 cases. The 29926 ZIP code on the north side has 1,798 cases, according to DHEC data.
Okatie’s 29909 ZIP code, which includes Sun City Hilton Head, has reported 1,034 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.
