New COVID cases creep up week over week after months of decline, DHEC data show

South Carolina had about 500 more new coronavirus cases reported by the Department of Health and Environmental Control than the previous week.

With 4,678 new cases reported Nov. 13-20, South Carolina had its first increase in cases week over week since August. The department also reported 119 deaths and 448 hospitalizations, both down from the previous week.

The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests was almost 4.4, a slight increase from the previous week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that a positive percentage rate of less than 5 means the virus spread is slowing.

About 20,000 more people statewide were vaccinated this past week. Almost 2.41 million South Carolina residents, or about 50% of eligible people, have been vaccinated.

At least 911,624 cases of the virus have been reported since March 2020 and 14,096 people have died.

This story was originally published November 20, 2021 at 12:29 PM.

David Travis Bland

The State

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David Travis Bland is The State’s editorial editor. In his prior position as a reporter, he was named the 2020 South Carolina Journalist of the Year by the SC Press Association. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2010. Support my work with a digital subscription