South Carolina reported the highest number of daily cases of COVID-19 on Friday since the start of the pandemic, with a total of 4,986 confirmed cases and 91 probable cases.
Of these confirmed cases, 85 occurred in Aiken County, according to the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control. There was also a coronavirus-related death in Aiken County. The death occurred on January 6 and the victim was elderly.
The data reported on Friday are for the date of January 6.
The total confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Aiken County is now 8,477 on Friday, with 124 coronavirus-related deaths.
Aiken County also reported a total of 1,511 probable cases of COVID-19 and 20 probable coronavirus-related deaths.
In neighboring counties of Barnwell and Edgefield, 16 and 14 cases of the virus were confirmed, respectively, on Friday.
The total number of individual test results reported to DHEC across the state on Friday was 15,691, and the positive percentage was 31.8%.
According to DHEC’s acute hospital bed occupancy report, hospitals in Aiken County have 89% occupancy. 138 beds are occupied, while there are 17 open beds. This data also shows that eight patients with COVID-19 are admitted to an ICU in the city.
DHEC announced on Friday that South Carolina received 146,500 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and administered 62,632 first doses and 7,698 second doses. Aiken Regional Medical Centers received 540 total doses of vaccine and administered 432 first doses and 16 second doses.
Dr. Brannon Traxler, interim director of public health at DHEC, said on Friday that, after setting a January 15 deadline for phase 1a officials to schedule vaccine appointments, DHEC noted an increase in these consultations. . As of Friday morning, 83,844 people had scheduled to be vaccinated.
DHEC also announced on Friday that South Carolina hospitals can start vaccinating their inpatients, aged 65 and over, as long as they do not have COVID-19 and a provider considers it suitable for them.
“It is in our state’s interest to allow hospitals to start vaccinating their inpatients aged 65 and over,” said Traxler in a statement. “By promoting these patients who are currently admitted to our hospitals, we are ensuring that the most vulnerable among us are vaccinated as soon as possible.”
The total number of cases across the state is now 315,353, with 28,823 probable cases, 5,217 confirmed deaths and 478 probable deaths.