Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on April 3
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Latest coronavirus cases
At least 1,700 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina, and 34 people have died, according to public health officials.
Officials reported three deaths and 147 new cases on Thursday.
The three deaths were in Richland and Greenville counties. All were older and had other health conditions that put them at increased risk.
More than 1 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide with more than 59,000 deaths as of Friday night, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has almost 277,000 confirmed cases and more than 7,400 deaths.
Coronavirus zip code database highlights SC hotspots
Every ZIP code in Richland and Lexington counties has reported a case of COVID-19, The State reported, using new data now available from the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
This data makes it clearer what communities have been hardest hit by the illness, though state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell cautioned that it’s still only as accurate as the information available.
“The ZIP code information alone only represents people who have actually been tested. And we know that with inadequate testing supplies and with inadequate access to care, not everyone who is sick has been tested,” she said at a Friday news conference. “And so we don’t want anybody to believe that that information in any way says what is actually occurring in the communities and the risk for disease spread, regardless of the case counts.”
McMaster orders more closures
Gov. Henry McMaster ordered more business closures Friday in response to the increasing coronavirus cases in South Carolina.
The businesses now deemed non-essential include florists and those that sell furniture, jewelry, clothing, shoes, sporting goods, books, arts and crafts, music and home furnishings, The State reported. Additionally, all short-term rentals are being suspended.
Changes go into effect 5 p.m. Monday.
Professional licensing renewal deadline extended
Licensed professionals in South Carolina will have more time to get their licenses renewed, the state Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation announced.
The renewal deadline has been moved back to Sept. 30, according to The State.
“The agency recognizes and appreciates the sacrifices our licensees are making during this difficult time, and we want to do our part in making things easier for them,” LLR Director Emily Farr said.
Parole hearings delayed
The South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services is canceling all parole hearings scheduled between now and June 1, The State reports.
South Carolina’s American Civil Liberties Union chapter and some lawmakers opposed the decision. Critics said prisons can be breeding grounds for COVID-19 and the parole board already has video conferencing technology that could be expanded.
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DHEC will release cases by zip code
Gov. Henry McMaster directed public health officials to release data on confirmed COVID-19 cases by zip code Friday. The order reverses a decision by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, The State reports.
“In addition they will provide the estimated number of residents who are likely infected and untested within that same zip code,” the governor tweeted.
USC cancels in-person summer classes
The University of South Carolina is calling off all face-to-face classes until August due to coronavirus concerns, The State reported.
The university is opting for remote learning until it is deemed safe enough for normal operations to continue.
“The modeling currently demonstrates that cases of coronavirus are predicted to peak in late April or early May, just before the first of our summer sessions begins, and the virus will continue to pose a threat even after the peak,” USC President Bob Caslen said in a statement.
Boeing begins voluntary layoffs
The airplane manufacturer Boeing is now offering voluntary layoff packages to 161,000 of its employees, including those working in South Carolina, The State reported.
“Across Boeing, we’re focused on keeping one another and our communities safe as the COVID-19 pandemic reaches every corner of the globe. Our first priority is and will continue to be protecting the health and safety of our people, their families and the stakeholders we touch,” Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun said in a news release.
DHEC creating address database
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control is creating a database of addresses for all confirmed coronavirus patients in the state, in part to help protect first responders, according to the Associated Press.
Health officials said by providing first responders with the addresses, they can arrive on the scene better prepared and with the proper equipment to keep themselves safe from contracting COVID-19, the outlet reported.
Jobless claims double
New unemployment claims in South Carolina have hit almost 100,000 in two weeks as more businesses have shut down for the coronavirus.
Almost 65,000 people filed for unemployment benefits in the state last week, up from more than 31,000 claims the week before, The State reports.
Gov. Henry McMaster has ordered all non-essential businesses to close to help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state.
Myrtle Beach Harley rally canceled
Myrtle Beach’s annual Harley-Davidson Spring Rally has been canceled, The Sun News Reports. The event will be combined with the annual fall rally in October.
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 7:20 AM.