Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on April 1

We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.

Latest coronavirus cases

At least 1,293 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina, and 26 people have died, according to public health officials.

Officials reported four deaths and 210 new cases on Wednesday — the fifth day in a row South Carolina has reported more than 100 new cases, and the first time that number has topped 200.

The four deaths reported reported Wednesday were in Anderson, Beaufort, Lee and Richland counties.

More than 911,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide with more than 45,000 deaths as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 203,000 confirmed cases and more than 4,400 deaths.

‘Tiger King’ site in Myrtle Beach shuts down

Myrtle Beach Safari, featured in the popular Netflix series “Tiger King,” is shutting down after the governor ordered all tourist attractions to close, Bhagavan “Doc” Antle told The Sun News.

The governor ordered all non-essential businesses to shut down Wednesday to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s open and what’s closed during the shutdown order.

Two arrested for looting

Police arrested two men in York for looting during South Carolina’s state of emergency, The Rock Hill Herald reports.

The two men are from Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, the newspaper reports.

“The charges were added Monday by sheriff’s officials following the arrest on Friday when both men were taken into custody outside a Lake Wylie storage warehouse,” a sheriff’s office spokesman told The Herald.

‘Beaches are technically open’

Gov. Henry McMaster ordered all beach accesses and public boat ramps in the state to close Monday, but that doesn’t mean the actual beaches are closed.

“We don’t interpret this to mean people are prohibited from the beach,” Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune said, The Sun News reports.

In North Myrtle Beach, Mayor Marilyn Hatley said, “Beaches are technically open, it’s just our public access is closed to limit people from getting on the beach,” according to The Sun News.

Coronavirus could cost USC $40 million

Forced to close because of the pandemic, the University of South Carolina stands to lose $20 million to $40 million this year, officials said at a Tuesday board of trustees meeting.

Besides a lack of money coming in, the school is also issuing students refunds for room and board, according to The State.

“We’re looking at the end of spring semester here, plus the summer providing us with some challenges,” Ed Walton, the school’s executive VP for administration, said during the presentation. “An estimated financial impact, it’s hard to figure exactly. It’s somewhere between $20 [million] and $40 million” before USC accounts for money it can save.

McMaster expands restrictions

The governor issued an executive order Tuesday forcing more businesses to close to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus in South Carolina. He stopped short of a stay-at-home order that other governors, including in North Carolina, have issued.

McMaster’s list of businesses now considered non-essential includes some, but not all, entertainment venues, athletic facilities, and various other shops such as nail and hair salons, tattoo parlors and more.

“We must be as aggressive as we can be to stop the spread ... but at the same time, not going too far and destroying businesses and jobs that people are depending on,” McMaster said at an afternoon news conference.

The State has provided a full list of what will be open or closed in South Carolina, under the new order.

U.S. House Rep. Joe Cunningham has joined a growing number of lawmakers pushing McMaster to to issue a stay-at-home order for South Carolina.

A petition on change.org asking the governor to issue such an order has more than 17,000 signatures as of Tuesday morning.

County music festival postponed

Myrtle Beach’s annual Carolina Country Music Festival, originally scheduled for June, is being postponed until Sept. 17-20, The Sun News reports.

“All previously purchased tickets and parking passes will still be honored for the rescheduled dates. Tickets are currently non-refundable,” according to The Sun News.

This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 6:57 AM.