WPDE ABC News15 recently covered IMPH and DHEC’s COVID-19 data brief, which summarizes 2020 data on testing, case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths.

A recent study released by The South Carolina Institute of Medicine and DHEC had two Pee Dee counties among the top counties when it comes to the prevalence of COVID-19 cases in 2020.

The study listed Pickens, Dillon, and Florence Counties as the top three counties with the highest prevalence of COVID-19 in the state.

Dillon county’s case rate was about 81 cases per 1,000 people while Florence county was not far behind with 79 cases per 1,000 people.

Community members from both areas shared their frustration with those not taking the virus seriously.

"It's sad seeing something as simple as wearing a mask could curve the effect of that but people still choose not to wear them," said Jerris Davis.

State Representative Terry Alexander had shared similar feelings and hopes this data opens people's eyes.

"We have to be very very careful and cautious. Those numbers should make everybody more conscience," said Representative Alexander.

Now with vaccines becoming more available, Representative Alexander called on local leaders to work together to make distribution runs smoothly.

"I'm hoping the state and local communities kind of work out a more logistic plan than what [we] have done in the past to make sure those vaccines get into the arms of people as fast as they can," said Representative Alexander. Read more from Carlos Flores, here.