Horry County sees nearly 3,000 COVID cases since Christmas. How many in your ZIP code?
A perfect storm of a new variant, relatively stagnant vaccination rates, few mask-wearers and holiday gatherings is driving a renewed surge of COVID-19 cases in Horry County.
But as has been true during much of the pandemic, the virus isn’t attacking each area of the county equally. Some communities are much harder hit during the omicron surge than others, data from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control show.
Some ZIP codes are showing an incidence rate of nearly 10 cases per 1,000 residents, while others are in the low single digits.
Horry County has recorded more than 2,800 positive cases since Christmas as South Carolina continues to add record-breaking caseloads to its daily counts nearly two years into the pandemic.
Vaccination rates in Horry County also vary by ZIP code, but as a whole the county has 54% of its total population vaccinated, according to data kept by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A September Sun News analysis found a correlation between vaccination rates and case counts in Horry County communities.
The incidence rates below are based on the cases recorded from Dec. 26 through Jan. 2, the most recent data available from DHEC. The incidence rate is calculated by comparing that to the ZIP code’s population.
As omicron surges and people head back to school and work, find out where your community stands.
Horry County’s COVID case numbers ranked by ZIP code
1. 29511 - Aynor
The Aynor area of Horry County added 63 cases to its count in the past two weeks, meaning roughly 11.5 per 1,000 residents in the area have tested positive for COVID-19 since Dec. 26.
2. 29579 - Carolina Forest
In Carolina Forest, one of the area’s most populous ZIP codes, the incidence rate is threatening to increase to 10 cases per 1,000 residents. At 9.69 cases per 1,000 residents, the area ranks second in the county just behind Aynor.
3. 29526 - Conway and Red Hill
The county’s largest ZIP code by population ranks third in incidence rate during the last two weeks, data show. The 29526 ZIP code recorded 464 cases in that time frame, bringing its incidence rate to 9.62 cases per 1,000 residents.
4. 29544 - Galivants Ferry
In Galivants Ferry, the post-holiday caseload is 53 positive tests as of Sunday. That brings the area’s incidence rate to around 9.5 cases per 1,000 residents.
5. 29595 - Loris
With 157 cases reported in the Loris area since Dec. 26, the area has an incidence rate of 9 cases per 1,000 residents.
6. 29577 - Myrtle Beach
One of the ZIP codes that covers Horry County’s main hub of Myrtle Beach recorded an incidence rate of 8.7 cases per 1,000 residents, ranking sixth of all Horry County’s ZIP codes.
7. 29566 - Little River
The Little River area boasts one of the highest vaccination rates in Horry County. Its incidence rate in late December and early January is 8.7 cases per 1,000 residents, according to DHEC.
8. 29527 - Conway, Bucksport and Bucksville
Near Conway, 207 cases have been reported since the day after Christmas. The incidence rate comes out to around 7.8 cases per 1,000 residents.
9. 29572 - Myrtle Beach
In Myrtle Beach, the 29572 ZIP code falls in the middle of the pack in Horry County’s recent incidence rate. Its 73 cases bring its incidence rate to around 7.54 cases per 1,000 residents, barely more than the Socastee and Forestbrook area.
10. 29588 - Socastee and Forestbrook
The Socastee and Forestbrook area, covered by ZIP code 29588, is responsible for 362 of Horry County’s cases in the last two weeks, meaning its incidence rate is 7.52 cases per 1,000 residents.
11. 29582 - North Myrtle Beach
In the northern part of the county, North Myrtle Beach recorded an incidence rate of 6.7 cases per 1,000 residents.
12. 29568 - Longs
The Longs area just barely trails North Myrtle Beach with an incidence rate of 6.6 cases per 1,000 residents added to its count since late December. The area recorded 108 cases since Dec. 26.
13. 29575 - Surfside Beach and Garden City
The 29575 ZIP code added 122 of Horry County’s 2,800-strong cases in the last two weeks. Compared to its population, that comes to an incidence rate of 6.4 cases per 1,000 residents.
14. 29545 - Green Sea
The smallest Horry County ZIP code by population reported only nine COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, according to DHEC. That’s an incidence rate of 5.5 cases per 1,000 residents.
15. 29576 - Murrells Inlet and Garden City
With 166 cases in the last two weeks, Murrells Inlet and Garden City have an incidence rate of 5.1 cases per 1,000 residents.
16. 29581 - Nichols and Ketchuptown
Only 13 cases were reported in the 29581 ZIP code covering Nichols and Ketchuptown, one of the smallest areas by population in Horry County. The area’s incidence rate comes out to 2.9 cases per 1,000 residents.
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 6:30 AM.
