Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in South Carolina
Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in South Carolina
The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.
Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely.
The United States as of Nov. 16 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 98.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 68.6% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 10.1% of vaccinated people have received the most recently available bivalent booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in South Carolina using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100,000 residents within the week leading up to Nov. 10, 2022. Cumulative cases per 100,000 served as a tiebreaker.
Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in your state.
#46. Saluda County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,409 (4,383 total cases)
--- 36.3% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 405 (83 total deaths)
--- 11.9% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 31.3% (6,407 fully vaccinated)
#45. Calhoun County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,143 (3,368 total cases)
--- 31.1% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 419 (61 total deaths)
--- 15.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.6% (6,203 fully vaccinated)
#44. Clarendon County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,458 (10,278 total cases)
--- 9.3% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 489 (165 total deaths)
--- 35.1% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.6% (17,062 fully vaccinated)
#43. Allendale County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,106 (2,355 total cases)
--- 19.3% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 276 (24 total deaths)
--- 23.8% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.7% (5,275 fully vaccinated)
#42. Barnwell County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,209 (6,512 total cases)
--- 7.1% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 503 (105 total deaths)
--- 39.0% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.7% (12,045 fully vaccinated)
#41. Darlington County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,949 (21,284 total cases)
--- 4.9% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 497 (331 total deaths)
--- 37.3% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.3% (33,485 fully vaccinated)
#40. Greenwood County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,880 (25,407 total cases)
--- 6.8% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 452 (320 total deaths)
--- 24.9% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.3% (34,884 fully vaccinated)
#39. Georgetown County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,767 (18,658 total cases)
--- 11.4% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 378 (237 total deaths)
--- 4.4% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.2% (35,214 fully vaccinated)
#38. Williamsburg County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,172 (9,770 total cases)
--- 4.2% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 494 (150 total deaths)
--- 36.5% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.7% (17,820 fully vaccinated)
#37. Lee County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,560 (4,806 total cases)
--- 15.0% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 582 (98 total deaths)
--- 60.8% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.5% (8,333 fully vaccinated)
#36. Marion County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,864 (10,075 total cases)
--- 2.2% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 548 (168 total deaths)
--- 51.4% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (15,394 fully vaccinated)
#35. Colleton County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,325 (10,672 total cases)
--- 15.7% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 597 (225 total deaths)
--- 64.9% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (18,910 fully vaccinated)
#34. Florence County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,869 (48,221 total cases)
--- 3.8% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 484 (669 total deaths)
--- 33.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.6% (78,268 fully vaccinated)
#33. Hampton County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,680 (5,705 total cases)
--- 11.6% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 447 (86 total deaths)
--- 23.5% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.7% (12,634 fully vaccinated)
#32. Oconee County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,843 (27,716 total cases)
--- 3.7% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 458 (364 total deaths)
--- 26.5% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.4% (36,916 fully vaccinated)
#31. Sumter County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,097 (33,187 total cases)
--- 7.4% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 391 (417 total deaths)
--- 8.0% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.8% (62,700 fully vaccinated)
#30. Laurens County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,131 (21,686 total cases)
--- 4.3% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 455 (307 total deaths)
--- 25.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.7% (26,811 fully vaccinated)
#29. Charleston County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,124 (132,160 total cases)
--- 4.4% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 241 (991 total deaths)
--- 33.4% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.1% (279,976 fully vaccinated)
#28. Beaufort County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,519 (50,949 total cases)
--- 21.0% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 209 (401 total deaths)
--- 42.3% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.9% (136,125 fully vaccinated)
#27. Anderson County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,638 (66,111 total cases)
--- 2.8% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 520 (1,054 total deaths)
--- 43.6% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.6% (84,334 fully vaccinated)
#26. Abbeville County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,828 (7,316 total cases)
--- 11.2% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 289 (71 total deaths)
--- 20.2% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.6% (10,197 fully vaccinated)
#25. Edgefield County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,734 (7,833 total cases)
--- 14.5% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 268 (73 total deaths)
--- 26.0% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.7% (17,081 fully vaccinated)
#24. Jasper County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,791 (6,854 total cases)
--- 32.1% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 319 (96 total deaths)
--- 11.9% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.7% (11,932 fully vaccinated)
#23. Spartanburg County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,365 (109,894 total cases)
--- 2.3% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 496 (1,587 total deaths)
--- 37.0% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.1% (144,372 fully vaccinated)
#22. Dillon County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,133 (11,013 total cases)
--- 7.6% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 489 (149 total deaths)
--- 35.1% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.3% (14,107 fully vaccinated)
#21. Berkeley County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,599 (62,901 total cases)
--- 17.8% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 204 (464 total deaths)
--- 43.6% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.4% (123,876 fully vaccinated)
#20. Cherokee County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,206 (17,308 total cases)
--- 10.1% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 571 (327 total deaths)
--- 57.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 35.3% (20,225 fully vaccinated)
#19. Aiken County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,610 (48,887 total cases)
--- 14.8% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 261 (446 total deaths)
--- 27.9% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.2% (82,414 fully vaccinated)
#18. Greenville County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,546 (196,568 total cases)
--- 11.8% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 397 (2,077 total deaths)
--- 9.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.3% (300,147 fully vaccinated)
#17. Horry County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,479 (115,002 total cases)
--- 3.3% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 349 (1,236 total deaths)
--- 3.6% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.5% (207,292 fully vaccinated)
#16. Newberry County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,216 (15,459 total cases)
--- 19.7% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 541 (208 total deaths)
--- 49.4% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.2% (20,836 fully vaccinated)
#15. McCormick County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,296 (2,583 total cases)
--- 18.7% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 433 (41 total deaths)
--- 19.6% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.9% (5,765 fully vaccinated)
#14. Bamberg County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,056 (4,087 total cases)
--- 13.5% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 540 (76 total deaths)
--- 49.2% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (7,385 fully vaccinated)
#13. Fairfield County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,798 (7,106 total cases)
--- 5.3% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 501 (112 total deaths)
--- 38.4% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.1% (14,997 fully vaccinated)
#12. York County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,258 (90,639 total cases)
--- 4.0% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 252 (709 total deaths)
--- 30.4% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (147,451 fully vaccinated)
#11. Chester County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,599 (11,801 total cases)
--- 9.0% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 487 (157 total deaths)
--- 34.5% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.6% (15,335 fully vaccinated)
#10. Marlboro County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,799 (9,350 total cases)
--- 6.6% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 429 (112 total deaths)
--- 18.5% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.2% (12,079 fully vaccinated)
#9. Pickens County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,798 (51,766 total cases)
--- 21.5% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 517 (656 total deaths)
--- 42.8% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.9% (60,831 fully vaccinated)
#8. Richland County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,270 (150,797 total cases)
--- 8.0% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 239 (992 total deaths)
--- 34.0% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.2% (262,938 fully vaccinated)
#7. Dorchester County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 40,948 (66,667 total cases)
--- 21.9% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 329 (535 total deaths)
--- 9.1% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.2% (89,941 fully vaccinated)
#6. Chesterfield County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,811 (14,065 total cases)
--- 8.3% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 447 (204 total deaths)
--- 23.5% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 38.5% (17,582 fully vaccinated)
#5. Lancaster County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,222 (29,621 total cases)
--- 10.0% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 297 (291 total deaths)
--- 18.0% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.5% (48,529 fully vaccinated)
#4. Orangeburg County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,456 (27,969 total cases)
--- 3.4% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 501 (432 total deaths)
--- 38.4% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.7% (49,709 fully vaccinated)
#3. Kershaw County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,791 (25,816 total cases)
--- 15.5% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 409 (272 total deaths)
--- 13.0% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.8% (40,442 fully vaccinated)
#2. Union County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,303 (9,097 total cases)
--- 0.8% less cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 578 (158 total deaths)
--- 59.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.1% (11,773 fully vaccinated)
#1. Lexington County, SC
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,705 (115,631 total cases)
--- 15.2% more cases per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 309 (923 total deaths)
--- 14.6% less deaths per 100k residents than South Carolina
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.5% (171,813 fully vaccinated)