Hospitalizations from COVID-19 going down across Prisma Health system

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As of Oct. 21, Prisma Health had 192 COVID-19 patients hospitalized. Of them, 170, or 89%, are unvaccinated. Of the 66 who are in the ICU, 60, or 91%, are unvaccinated. Of the 42 requiring ventilators, 39 are unvaccinated, which is 93%.

This is down from September's record-breaking surge of COVID-19 hospital admissions throughout the state's largest health care system, which includes Sumter's Tuomey Hospital. Last month's peak for COVID-19 hospitalizations across the system's Upstate and Midlands hospitals reached 568.

According to state public health data, 54.2% of eligible South Carolina residents have been fully vaccinated, and 69.1% have received at least one dose. Data on fully vaccinated residents includes those who received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson or two doses of Pfizer or Moderna.

Sumter County has improved slightly in its rate of vaccination completion, moving from fourth lowest during the September surge to sixth lowest now. Sumter County has the 15th-largest vaccine-eligible population in the state.

It appears the number of people who have recently received their first shot has jumped recently in Sumter County. The Gamecock City has the 13st-lowest rate of residents who have received at least one vaccine.