South Carolina confirmed more than 225 new coronavirus-related deaths on Thursday, one of the biggest additions the state has seen since the pandemic began last year.
The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control has confirmed more than 6,200 COVID-19 deaths and is investigating hundreds more that experts believe are caused by the virus.
Although some of the deaths occurred in 2020 and were not confirmed as cases of COVID-19 until this week, most were deaths in January. According to records maintained by the Post and Courier, the state has never before tracked more than 60 deaths on a single date.
State figures
New cases reported: 2,934
Total cases in SC: 387,603 confirmed, 43,566 probable.
New reported deaths: 226 confirmed, 28 likely.
Total deaths in SC: 6,235 confirmed, 668 likely.
Percentage of ICU beds occupied: 81 percent.
Percentage of positive tests, average of seven days: 22.8 percent.
How does SC rank in vaccines administered by 100,000 people? 42nd on Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most affected areas: The three counties with the highest level of cases for their populations are Pickens and Greenville in Upstate and Dillon County in Pee Dee, according to DHEC.
What about the tri-county?: Cases per person are among the lowest in the state in Dorchester and Berkeley counties. Charleston County ranks 11th out of 46 counties.
What do the experts say?: Over 10 months of the pandemic in 2020, Pickens, Dillon and Florence counties were hardest hit by the COVID-19 cases, shows a survey by the SC Institute of Medicine and Public Health released last week.
Average family income is below the state average in each of the three counties, according to the US Census Bureau.
The report highlights the areas of the state that have struggled most with COVID-19 and points to the greatest impact of the disease on minorities. Among racial or ethnic disparities, the disease affected the Hispanic population more disproportionately, according to the study.
Adam Benson contributed to this Columbia report. Reach Mary Katherine Wildeman at 843-607-4312. Follow her on Twitter @mkwildeman.