See how omicron spread through your Horry County ZIP code in these charts and maps
The emergence of the omicron variant of COVID-19 introduced a new set of worries for health officials as it gained a foothold in Horry County, driving caseloads to record peaks and straining hospitals yet again.
The area has seen more than 15,600 cases of COVID-19 since Dec. 20, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. For context, that’s nearly 20% of Horry County’s cases throughout the entire pandemic thus far.
The omicron variant was first discovered in southern Africa in November, but made its way to the United States shortly after. By mid-December, it was detected in South Carolina. It didn’t take long for cases to skyrocket.
Over time, cases per capita rose in Horry County at a rate never before seen in the pandemic. During previous spikes, Horry County saw between 100-200 cases on a bad day. Now, the county has recorded between 500-1,000 cases nearly every day in the past few weeks.
The variant caused various public office closures, National Guard medics’ presence in the area and a renewed concern about large gatherings and maskless people.
But as has been true since the emergence of the coronavirus nearly two years ago, not all parts of Horry County are created equal. Different areas have seen the omicron variant drive cases upward at different rates, likely due to the vaccination rates in certain areas and how dense the population is. It’s important to note vaccinations don’t prevent infection with 100% effectiveness, but doctors and health experts maintain it’s integral in minimizing severe symptoms, ventilation and death.
This story was originally published January 19, 2022 at 2:13 PM.
