Should fully vaccinated Beaufort Co. residents still wear masks indoors? What CDC says
Federal health officials say that fully vaccinated people in Beaufort and Jasper counties do not have to wear face masks in indoor public places, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The two Lowcountry counties, as of early Friday, were both designated as having “moderate” levels of coronavirus transmission, CDC data show.
There were only 10 South Carolina counties in total with that classification.
The CDC still recommends that unvaccinated residents in Beaufort and Jasper counties wear face coverings in indoor settings like grocery stores and restaurants.
The federal data show that the southeastern corner of the Palmetto State is faring better than other regions as the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, continues to circulate throughout South Carolina’s population.
But how long will this reprieve from the pandemic actually last?
The answer to that is still unknown, but other parts of the country might offer a clue.
More than 70% of counties in the United States currently have a “high” level of coronavirus transmission, CDC data show. And hospitals in states such as Arizona and Minnesota are grappling again with a surge of COVID-19 admissions.
‘An odd disease’
Counties in the Lowcountry, South Georgia, Mississippi, most of Florida and Northeast Texas are among the few spots in America where COVID-19 spread remains moderate.
(The South was hit hard by this past summer’s coronavirus surge, which was driven by the delta variant.)
However, even if the super-contagious variant has helped build up a stronger wall of SARS-CoV-2 immunity in South Carolina via natural infections, Dr. Jane Kelly, assistant state epidemiologist, during a presentation to Hilton Head Island town officials on Tuesday issued a warning.
Kelly said that a mathematical modeler at the Medical University of South Carolina recently told her there’s “serious concern” that the state will face a surge during the 2021 holiday season.
“COVID-19 is an odd disease, and (it) seems to do this roller coaster, up-and-down cycling,” Kelly said. “We’re not out of the woods yet.”
She added that after weeks of lower case counts, the state’s infection numbers appear to be plateauing again just before Thanksgiving.
Countywide data
Here are the latest Beaufort County coronavirus numbers from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control:
New cases reported Friday: 14 confirmed, 9 probable
New cases reported Thursday: 13 confirmed, 2 probable
New cases reported Wednesday: 11 confirmed, 9 probable
New deaths reported from Friday to Wednesday: 0 confirmed, 0 probable
Seven-day average of new cases: 7 confirmed infections per day
Two-week incidence rate: 92.6 cases per 100,000 people
Vaccination rate: 53.4% of residents have been fully vaccinated
ZIP code data since July 1
Bluffton ZIP code, 29910: 2,832 cases
Hilton Head Island ZIP code, 29926: 1,100 cases
Hilton Head Island ZIP code, 29928: 455 cases
Okatie ZIP code, 29909: 766 cases
Beaufort ZIP code, 29902: 1,400 cases
St. Helena Island ZIP code, 29920: 433 cases
