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

Latest coronavirus cases

At least 3,931 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina, and 109 people have died, according to public health officials.

Officials reported 276 new cases and two deaths Wednesday, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Lexington County reported the most new cases with 52, and 33 new cases were confirmed in Greenville County, DHEC said.

More than 2.1 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide with more than 143,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 667,000 confirmed cases and more than 32,000 deaths.

Docks to reopen to the public

Public docks and boat landings will be open again starting at noon Friday, Gov. Henry McMaster ordered, though social distancing rules are still in effect, The State reported.

“It is a small step and there will be more,” McMaster said. “We asked people to take life easy, to recreate, and get out and exercise. A lot of that happens on the water. A lot of families like to get out on the water ... But we insist, don’t have any large gatherings. Do the things we have asked you to do before and we will be fine.

“If you are on a boat, fishing with your son, daughter or family, there is very little risk there.”

McMaster: SC economy will be ‘humming’ by June

Gov. Henry McMaster announced plans to create a task force made up of stakeholders from various industries to assist with his overall goal of getting the state’s economy back in gear by the end of June.

The move comes as McMaster prepares to reveal the details of his economic recovery plan, “Accelerate SC,” which he will discuss next week, The State reported.

“By the end of June, we expect our economy to be humming,” McMaster said. “We expect to be well back in business by then.”

Six die after funeral

A cluster of coronavirus cases connected to an early March funeral in Kershaw County has killed six people, officials said. The dead included a husband and wife.

“All six of the dead were elderly — over the age of 60 — and all were African American, officials said. The elderly and African Americans have the highest fatality rate from coronavirus, according to national and South Carolina statistics,” The State reports.

Hospital asks for masks

Lexington Medical Center is looking for people to donate homemade masks for hospital employees, The State reports.

The homemade masks would be used by hospital employees who are not involved in patient care, saving medical masks for employees in direct contact with coronavirus patients, the hospital said.

MUSC: social distancing is working

Social distancing is working to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state, the Medical University of South Carolina said. But don’t stop now.

Officials with the Charleston hospital say they still expect to see cases surge in the coming weeks, The State reports. The hospital warned that new cases could come in “cluster outbreaks” and “super spreader” events from social gatherings.

New unemployment claims continue to rise

More than 87,000 people in South Carolina filed for new unemployment benefits last week, according to the state Department of Employment and Workforce.

New jobless claims have increased by 4,293% in the past four weeks for a total of 268,614, The State reports.

The employment department has added about 250 people to help handle all the new jobless claims, according to The State.

Greenville County had the most new unemployment claims last week with more than 10,300. Horry County had almost 8,000 new claims, and Spartanburg County had about 7,250.

School meal program suspended

Horry County Schools is suspending its meal pick-up program for students after several employees have tested positive for coronavirus, according to The Sun News. The school district was operating 13 grab-and-go meal sites around the county to hand out meals to children, but the sites will now be shut down for at least two weeks, the district said.

118 employees infected, Prisma says

During a Wednesday phone call with state legislators, Prisma Health said that more than 100 employees have contracted coronavirus, The State reported.

More than half of the 118 infected staff members were exposed to the virus while on the job, according to the outlet.

Price gouging

The South Carolina Attorney General said his office has received more than 650 complaints about price gouging since the governor declared a state of emergency last month.

Masks, hand sanitizer and other cleaning supplies were the most common items people were selling for more than usual, The State reports. Raising the prices of essential items during a state of emergency is against state law.

“We want to get moving on these as soon as possible to get the word out that we are investigating these price gouging complaints and will prosecute the businesses and individuals that violate the law,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said in a news release.

This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 7:13 AM.