Lexington Medical Center reports dealing with more covid cases.

The hospital reported that 3 more covid patients have died.

192 covid patients are being cared for, up from 149 this time last week.

154 of those patients are unvaccinated and 24 were vaccinated patients.

49 covid patients are in intensive care, up from 37 last week. 43 are unvaccinated and 6 were vaccinated.

The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control said more unvaccinated Lexington County residents are being infected.

Others who have been vaccinated are being infected, too. How many health officials do not know yet.

Many infected may not realize they have been infected or show no symptoms.

If you have not yet been vaccinated you are more likely to end up in the hospital and possibly in intensive care or on a ventilator.

DHEC said 21% of covid-19 deaths recorded had received vaccine.

That means 79% who died were unvaccinated.

Dr. Jane Kelly of DHEC said the number of breakthrough cases among those vaccinated is small.

Those who end up in the hospital are a fraction of those vaccinated.

But as more of us are vaccinated, the number of breakthrough cases will grow, she said.

Most breakthrough cases in hospitals have suffered with pre-existing conditions that make covid worse.

Nearly 28% reported having a cardiovascular disease; 25% had diabetes; 18% had asthma and 26% were or had been smokers.

Those with COPD, bronchitis or emphysema were 8% of all patients but 23% of the fatalities.

Those with a neurological condition were 6% of patients and 22% of deaths.

A history of kidney disease shows up in 20% of deaths.

Congestive heart failure helps cause almost 15% of deaths and cerebral accidents or strokes 14%.

SC patients show higher rates than national averages and fewer well-managed chronic disease cases.

Of 114 vaccinated patients admitted to SC hospitals last month, 104 had a pre-existing condition.