The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 732 new cases of COVID-19 and 32 new deaths as confirmed infections in the state, reaching 450,000.
Of these 32 deaths, one was a young adult from Richland County.
On March 5, 2020, leaders from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control urged residents not to panic at the prospect of coronavirus cases in Palmetto State.
The following day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that two Southern Carolinians had tested positive for the new coronavirus: an elderly patient in Kershaw County and a health professional from Charleston County who had recently returned from a trip to the Italy.
As vaccines become more readily available, South Carolina is on track to reach more than 450,000 confirmed cases in the next day or two.
State figures
New cases reported: 732 confirmed, 131 probable.
Total cases in SC: 449,977 confirmed, 75,888 likely.
Positive percentage: 4.4 percent.
New reported deaths: 32 confirmed, six likely.
Total deaths in SC: 7,744 confirmed, 1,010 probable.
Percentage of ICU beds occupied: 68.2 percent.
How does SC rank in vaccines administered by 100,000 people?
44 of March 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most affected areas
Of the recently confirmed cases, the counties of Greenville (108), Spartanburg (66) and Horry (54) saw the highest totals.
What about the tri-county?
Charleston County had 51 new cases on March 7, while Berkeley counted 22 and Dorchester 19.
Deaths
Thirteen of the 32 new confirmed deaths reported occurred among people aged 35 to 64, one was a young adult from Richland County and the rest were patients aged 65 and over.
Hospitalizations
Of the 579 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized on March 7, 137 were in the ICU and 83 were using ventilators.
What do the experts say?
DHEC experts say that taking the COVID-19 test is a step that people can take to slow the spread of the virus in the community. It is also recommended that people wear a cloth face mask that covers their mouth and nose when they are close to other people and in public, physically distance themselves when possible and be vaccinated.
People should take daily precautions to protect themselves from the virus until 70 to 80 percent of the population is vaccinated, DHEC said.
DHEC Care Line representatives answer general questions about COVID-19 from 7 am to 7 pm every day by calling 855-472-3432.
Catch up Thomas Novelly at 843-937-5713. Follow him @TomNovelly on Twitter.