Coronavirus updates for Oct. 12: Here’s what to know in South Carolina this week

We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in South Carolina. Check back each week for updates.

More than 3,100 COVID cases in SC last week

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Tuesday, Oct. 11, reported 3,122 COVID-19 cases and four coronavirus-related deaths for the week ending Oct. 8. The counts include probable and confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths.

At least 1.7 million coronavirus cases have been reported in South Carolina, and more than 18,400 people have died of the virus since March 2020, according to state health officials.

Data shows COVID-19 cases are down nearly 23% compared with this time last week, with hospitalizations falling about 7%. As of Oct. 8, an average of 249 people in the state were hospitalized with the coronavirus, including 37 patients being treated in intensive care and 13 patients on ventilators, the latest data shows.

The omicron subvariant BA.5 accounted for nearly 86% of coronavirus strains identified in South Carolina for the week of Sept. 24, followed by strain BA.4.6 (14.3%), according to the latest data. The DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory conducts sequencing on randomly chosen samples as part of nationwide efforts to find out about new strains of the virus, the agency’s website reads.

About 53% of South Carolinians eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and just over 61% have received at least one dose, state health data shows.

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