2 middle-aged people in Beaufort County died from COVID-19, DHEC reports Thursday
Two new COVID-19 deaths were reported in Beaufort County on Thursday.
One person died on March 23 and the other died last Friday, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Both people were described as middle-aged, or 35 to 64 years old.
DHEC also announced Thursday that 500 additional Beaufort County residents have received a coronavirus vaccine dose.
About 41% of county residents who are 15 or older have now received a shot, according to DHEC, and 58.6% of residents have yet to get a dose.
Coronavirus spread, meanwhile, remains low after a winter surge, though health experts are concerned that the United States could face a fourth wave of infections.
Michigan, for example, is already grappling with another major COVID-19 outbreak.
DHEC data show that daily case counts in South Carolina began to plateau over three weeks ago.
Eight new coronavirus cases and seven probable infections were reported in Beaufort County on Thursday. Jasper County recorded zero cases and no deaths Thursday.
Local numbers
COVID-19 inoculation rate for Beaufort County residents as of Tuesday (the most recent date for which data are available): 4,140 vaccine recipients per 10,000 residents. That’s the fifth-highest rate in South Carolina, though it could be inflated to some degree due to a ZIP code-level data issue.
Number of residents who have received at least one dose: 64,724
Total number of doses administered: 86,514
New first-dose vaccinations announced Thursday: 500
Percentage of the county’s 15 and older population who have received at least one dose: 41.4%
Statewide numbers
New first-dose vaccinations announced Thursday: 21,846
Number of residents who have received at least one dose: 1,436,707
Percentage of the state’s 15 and older population who have received at least one dose: 34.9%
Percentage of S.C. residents who have completed vaccination: 20.5%
ZIP code data
Bluffton’s ZIP code of 29910 leads the county with 14,575 vaccinations since late last year. Okatie’s 29909 ZIP code, which includes Sun City Hilton Head, has recorded 12,703 resident inoculations, which is the second-highest figure in the county (though that may be an overcount).
Hilton Head Island’s 29926 ZIP code, covering the north side, has 10,800 vaccinations. The 29928 ZIP code, covering the southeastern part of the island, has 8,837 vaccinations, according to DHEC.
Beaufort’s 29902 ZIP code has reported 4,561 inoculations.
DHEC releases most of its coronavirus vaccine data based on residency. If a Beaufort County resident is vaccinated out of state or in a different S.C. county, they would still be counted in DHEC’s Beaufort County-specific ZIP code data.
More information on ZIP code-level vaccine data can be found at the following link online: http://bit.ly/BeaufortCountyVaccines
Virus spread in Beaufort County
Total cases: 14,645 confirmed, according to DHEC
Total deaths: 189 confirmed, according to DHEC
Two-week cumulative incidence rate as of Tuesday: 77 cases per 100,000 people, a “moderate” 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 in Charleston, has previously said counties should aim to have a two-week incidence rate of less than 50 new cases per 100,000 people.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow we covered this story
Facts about COVID-19 vaccine distribution in South Carolina are changing rapidly. The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette are trying to publish important information as quickly and accurately as possible. This story may be updated if more information becomes available or if facts become clearer.
