Less new COVID cases and less deaths reported by DHEC week to week
Major indicators of coronavirus spread decreased week to week, according to reports from the state Department of Health and Environment Control.
The department reported 12,499 new cases of COVID-19 and 371 deaths from Oct. 2 to 8. That’s compared to more than 16,000 new cases and 500 deaths reported the previous week.
The percent of positive COVID tests also declined to about 8% compared to about 11% the previous week. The CDC has said the percent positive should be 5% to indicate the virus’ spread is slowing.
South Carolina has had four weeks of declining virus indicators.
Hospitalizations from the virus also decreased. But with almost 1,300 deaths in three weeks, that may account for a reduction in people in the hospital with the virus. At least 1,447 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday.
About 2.28 million of the state’s eligible residents, or about 53%, are vaccinated, DHEC reported. About 40,000 people were vaccinated this week.
In South Carolina, at least 874,013 cases of COVID-19 have been reported overall and 12,929 people have died since March 2020, according to DHEC.
This story was originally published October 9, 2021 at 2:08 PM with the headline "Less new COVID cases and less deaths reported by DHEC week to week."