South Carolina began to approach 7,000 confirmed deaths from coronavirus on February 7, with confirmed cases just over 400,000.
More than five million COVID-19 exams have already been carried out across the state, according to the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control.
For cases confirmed on February 7, 35,718 tests were conducted, a significant increase from previous pandemic test levels.
State figures
New cases reported: 2,228.
Total cases in SC: 412,996 confirmed, 53,377 probable.
New reported deaths: 35 confirmed, 8 likely.
Total deaths in SC: 6,849 confirmed, 802 likely.
Percentage of ICU beds occupied: 77.16 percent.
How does SC rank in vaccines administered by 100,000 people? 42nd on February 6, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most affected areas
The three counties with the highest case rates for their populations are Pickens, Dillon and Greenville, according to DHEC.
What about the tri-county?
Charleston County had 157 new cases, while Berkeley counted 68 and Dorchester saw 79.
Deaths
Six of the 35 new confirmed deaths reported on February 7 were patients aged 35 to 64, and the rest were 65 or older.
Hospitalizations
Of the 1,526 COVID-19 patients hospitalized on February 7, 359 were in the ICU and 224 were using ventilators.
What do the experts say?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourage people to continue wearing a mask, avoid crowds, stay 1.8 meters away from others and avoid poorly ventilated spaces. Dr. Linda Bell, DHEC’s chief epidemiologist, said that now is not the time to relax these preventive measures.
It is recommended that people living in the community get tested for COVID-19 once a month or earlier if they develop symptoms or live with someone who is positive for the virus.
DHEC’s COVID-19 test sites are available throughout the state. Visit scdhec.gov/FindATest to find a location nearby.
Talk to Fleming Smith at 843-607-1052. Follow her on Twitter at @MFlemingSmith.