Lexington County’s COVID-19 case rate continues to drop, though the county is still recommended to mask against the virus.

While the county’s COVID Community Level remains high, the case rate that goes into that designation determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dropped precipitously in recent weeks.

According to the CDC, in the seven days leading up to Aug. 25, the county posted 265.77 new cases per 100,000 people, dropping more than 27% from last week’s rate of 366.53. Last week’s number was down by nearly 17% from the 441.7 new cases per 100,000 people from two weeks prior.

The rate of new cases is one of three metrics that goes into determining Community Levels, a tool provided by the CDC that uses the latest local data to recommend best practices to combat COVID. A high level triggers a universal recommendation to mask in indoor public places from the CDC and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Like last week, Lexington County went up in one of the other two metrics that go into calculating Community Levels and down in the other. The county posted 14.6 new COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 people (up from last week’s 14.1), and 5.3% of the county’s inpatient hospital beds were in use by COVID patients (down from last week’s 6.1%).

Community Levels across the state continue to drop this week. 16 S.C. counties posted a high level this week (down from 27 last week). 23 counties posted a medium level, and seven posted a low level.

Two of Lexington County’s neighbors (Newberry and Richland) have a high level this week, and four (Saluda, Calhoun, Orangeburg and Aiken) have a medium level.