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Pandemic deaths take no holiday break

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     For some families in Columbus and Horry counties the 2020 holidays have been heartbreaking, with six recent COVID-19 associated deaths reported by state agencies Saturday.

     There has been no pause in newly confirmed coronavirus cases for either county, the most recent posts show.

     North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services took a two-day pause in posting data, while South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control updated its data daily, with the exception of Christmas Day.

     This post will cover these topics and may be updated:

  • COVID claims two more in Columbus
  • Coronavirus toll in Horry climbs by four

COVID claims two more in Columbus

     Two more COVID-19 associated deaths in Columbus County involved residents of the Tabor City and Whiteville Zip Codes, DHHS data posted Saturday shows.

     With those deaths 82 Columbus residents have been claimed by the coronavirus since March, the DHHS data shows.

     Another 155 Columbus residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since the last DHHS update on Wednesday. Whiteville Zip Code had by far the most newly confirmed cases for the period, 56, the DHHS data showed. Tabor City followed with 23 newly confirmed cases. Fair Bluff was the only Zip Code in the county without newly confirmed COVID cases posted.

     Pandemic case/death totals for some Columbus County Zip Codes include Tabor City, 1,035/23; Whiteville, 1,047/24; Clarendon, 115/2; Fair Bluff, 73/5; Chadbourn, 368/9; Cerro Gordo, 88/2; and Fair Bluff, 73/5.

     North Carolina reported 19,000 new COVID infections between Wednesday and Saturday, and 166 associated deaths, bringing those pandemic totals to 513,511 and 6,526 respectively.

     Statewide 3,023 people were hospitalized due to the coronavirus Saturday.

Coronavirus toll in Horry climbs by four

     COVID-19 has claimed four more Horry County lives since Wednesday, DHEC data posted Saturday shows.

     All four of those most recently claimed by the coronavirus were elderly, their deaths taking place on Dec. 15, 18, 20, and 22.

     Those deaths bring the COVID-19 death toll in Horry to 257.

     Another 180 Horry residents have tested positive for COVID-19 since Thursday, with no DHEC data posted on Christmas day. That includes 14 new cases reported for the Loris Zip Code, 4 for Green Sea.

     Pandemic total coronavirus cases for Horry have reached 16,924, and include 985 for the Loris Zip Code, 121 for Green Sea.

     South Carolina has recorded 266,678 COVID cases during the pandemic, 4,736 deaths, those numbers up by 4,736 and 74 respectively since Thursday.

     Statewide 1,758 people were hospitalized due to the coronavirus Saturday, that number down by 8 from Thursday.

Updates

     Look for continuing coverage on local impacts from the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak here and in the Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.