Though Lexington County’s case rate increased slightly this week, the area’s COVID-19 Community Level is low for the first time this year.
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Though Lexington County’s case rate increased slightly this week, the area’s COVID-19 Community Level is low for the first time this year.
The levels, provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, use the latest local data to provide recommendations on how best to combat the virus. Unlike high and medium levels, a low grade comes with no recommendations to mask from the CDC and state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
A high level, which the county had for eight-straight weeks ending in late January, brings a universal recommendation to mask. Last week, the county’s level dropped to medium, under which those at “high risk of getting very sick” are recommended to mask.
While the county’s case rate ticked up in the seven days leading up to Feb. 2, going from 109.79 per 100,000 people to 130.54, but it dropped in the other two metrics that go into calculating Community Levels — new COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 people (8.6 this week, 11.7 last week) and the percentage of staffed inpatient hospital beds in use by COVID patients (4% this week, 5.2% last week) — resulting in Lexington’s level dropping for a second straight week.
COVID levels across the state continue to drop. For a second-straight week, no counties grade as high, and the number of counties with a medium level decreased from 14 to three. Only one of Lexington County’s neighbors (Saluda) has a medium level.
Before this week, the county’s case rate had decreased for two-straight weeks after reaching a 2023 peak of 348.25 per 100,000 people, dropping to 202.51 and then 109.79.
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