Coronavirus death toll tops number killed during 7-month flu season, SC data show

The coronavirus is proving to be deadlier than the flu in South Carolina, claiming more lives since March than influenza did over a seven-month period, data shows.

From late September to mid-April, influenza killed 124 South Carolina residents, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Meanwhile, 140 people have died due to COVID-19 since the state’s first recorded death on March 16, according to DHEC.

The numbers suggest a greater fatality rate with the new virus, as well. Influenza killed fewer but infected more; over 6,600 confirmed flu cases were reported by April 11. Coronavirus, on the other hand, had infected 4,700 as of Tuesday.

Between 12,000 and 61,000 Americans die from the flu every year, according to Johns Hopkins University, but in the short time coronavirus has plagued the United States, it has killed more than 46,000 people.

Flu season generally begins in early October before winding down in April and May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Although flu season is coming to an end, it’s not clear when the coronavirus will retreat.

Experts have cautioned it’s too soon to say if the summer heat will beat it, as is sometimes the case with other viruses.

“One should not assume that we are going to be rescued by a change in the weather,” Dr. Anthony Fauci told ABC. “You must assume that the virus will continue to do its thing. If we get some help from the weather, so be it, fine. But I don’t think we need to assume that.”

Some predictive models, including one from the University of Washington, show SC has already past its peak in terms of deaths and new cases, but state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell doesn’t trust the worst is over just yet.

“We’re still learning about this virus, and we don’t have a great deal of certainty about what to expect,” Bell said Monday, adding that she has yet to see a drop-off in new cases herself, The State reported.