What you need to know about COVID-19 in SC’s Richland and Lexington counties
Overview
SC Gov. Henry McMaster issued a targeted mask rule and approved more business reopenings.
The state of SC is now publishing a report detailing COVID-19 cases at public and private schools.
By late September the state of South Carolina passed 3,000 COVID-19 deaths.
Social distancing
SC Gov. Henry McMaster has made his “work or home” order voluntary and said he will not re-impose restrictions.
State epidemiologist Linda Bell said a mask mandate in South Carolina would slow the spread of COVID-19.
Wearing masks at the SC Capitol is required, but many found a way around the order.
Businesses and facilities
SC should have had mask rule, restaurateurs say as COVID-19 takes toll on business.
All business in South Carolina can open again, with restrictions.
Restaurants are being rewarded for following COVID-19 guidelines in SC.
Events
Clemson is two games into its football season. The USC Gamecocks start Sept. 26.
Public SC high schools hold their first football games of the 2020 season Sept. 24-25.
- Things to do: Soda City Market reopened with restrictions. Columbia’s Greek Festival was canceled.
Health care status
Across SC, 733 hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients; 123 are on ventilators.
More than 134,494 people in South Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 3,214 have died.
SC has conducted more than 1.2 million COVID-19 tests and continues to ramp up contact tracing.
Schools
Several Columbia-area school districts have returned to in-person classes.
The University of South Carolina COVID-19 case count is down, but so is testing.
USC now offers a rapid coronavirus saliva testing for students, faculty and staff.
How to get help
Small business seeking help can reach out to the US Small Business Administration.
The SC Department of Employment and Workforce set up an online hub for unemployment assistance. Find info here on help with paying rent, mortgages and utilities in South Carolina.
Here are resources for getting food and information on soup kitchens and food pantries in SC.
How to help
Donate blood in SC through the Red Cross, which has safety measures in place.
Donate food or funds to the Harvest Hope Food Bank. Donate medical supplies to Prisma Health’s Columbia hospitals as well as Lexington Medical Center.
The Central Carolina Community Foundation’s One SC Fund aids food, shelter, health and nonprofit sustainability needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public Transport
- Columbia’s COMET bus system is operating with safety and social distancing measures in place.
Updated: Sept. 21, 2020
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 9:35 AM.