Coronavirus cases in South Carolina hit record high in one day

South Carolina on Friday recorded more than 3,600 new cases of the new coronavirus, according to official estimates.

With an estimated 3,648 new cases, that state officially set a new record for most cases reported in a single day, according to data from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

The latest record was set a week ago, on December 11, when about 3,217 new cases were reported. The new record set on Friday is an increase of 431 cases.

Overall, the state has recorded 247,361 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.

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South Carolina also recorded an increase in COVID-19-related deaths on Friday, with 28 newly confirmed deaths. The state has now recorded 4,512 deaths to date.

The news comes as the rollout of the long-awaited COVID-19 vaccine began this week. The jab, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, received emergency use approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration late last week. The vaccine, which requires two doses weeks apart, is the first to receive such approval in the United States.

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Another promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate, developed by Moderna, is also expected to receive emergency use authorization.

An FDA advisory committee met Thursday, voting to recommend that the vaccine be formally approved for emergency use by the federal agency. FDA officials said Friday they are “working quickly” to finalize the committee’s vote to formally grant emergency use approval.