Coronavirus spread slowing in SC after milestone reached, DHEC data shows
South Carolina has reached a milestone that indicates the spread of the coronavirus is slowing in the state, according to data from the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The portion of COVID-19 tests that came back positive from Oct. 23 through Oct. 29 was about 4.7%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that a percent positive of 5 or lower shows the virus spread is slowing.
Other major indicators of coronavirus also continue to decline week over week.
The state had 5,210 new cases of COVID-19 reported from Oct. 23 through Oct. 29, a decline from more than 6,000 reported cases the previous week. Deaths remained about the same week to week at 246.
The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 has declined, to 695 on Friday compared to 864 the previous week. Some of that decline could be the result of the 246 deaths reported for the week.
But the overall number of people hospitalized each of the last four weeks is fewer than during the summer wave of the virus.
About 30,000 people were vaccinated from Oct. 23 through Oct. 29. Almost 2.36 million, or 55% of the state’s eligible residents, have been fully vaccinated.
South Carolina has had 897,152 reported cases of the coronavirus and 13,716 deaths since the virus hit.
This story was originally published October 30, 2021 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Coronavirus spread slowing in SC after milestone reached, DHEC data shows."