COLUMBIA, S.C. — More people are hospitalized in South Carolina from the coronavirus than at any point since the virus hit last March, according to data from the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control.
At least 2,591 people were reported to be hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Thursday, the last day of reporting by DHEC. The next highest day for hospitalizations was Jan. 13, when 2,466 people were reported to be in the hospital.
From Sept. 4-10, DHEC reported 30,757 new cases of COVID-19, an average of about 4,394 cases a day.
At least 371 coronavirus-related deaths were reported, ranking among the highest number of deaths in any seven-day stretch since the virus appeared in South Carolina.
The percent of positive tests continues to show the virus is spreading in the state.
About 12% of tests came back positive in the same week of Sept. 4-10. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said that the percent positive should be 5% for the virus to slow.
More people appear to be getting vaccinated in the last three months.
About 2.11 million, or a little more than 49%, of the state’s eligible residents are vaccinated, DHEC reported.
About 40,000 people were vaccinated this week, double the approximate 20,000 people that had been completing the vaccination process each week for most of June and July.
In South Carolina, at least 784,052 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and 11,149 people have died since March 2020, according to DHEC.
