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

Latest cases

At least 5,253 people in South Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 166 have died, according to state health officials.

Nine deaths and 180 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state Saturday, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Eight elderly patients from Berkeley, Colleton, Florence, Greenville, Orangeburg, Richland counties died, as did one middle-aged resident of Lee County, according to health officials.

More than 2.8 million COVID-19 cases and more than 201,000 deaths have been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the U.S., more than 929,000 cases and 53,000 deaths have been reported.

73 infected at nursing home

The Midland Health and Rehabilitation Center in Columbia is facing the worst coronavirus outbreak of all nursing homes in the state, with 73 confirmed cases among residents and staff, The State reported.

Cases at the 88-bed facility doubled over a two day period.

SC expands unemployment benefits

Contractors, gig workers, and other self-employed South Carolina residents will soon be able to apply for emergency unemployment benefits, according to the Department of Employment and Workforce, which will begin accepting applications April 25.

The funds come through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which extends coverage to more Americans who wouldn’t typically be able to apply for unemployment, The State reported.

‘Race gap,’ calls for more testing

Black South Carolinians are disproportionately affected by coronavirus — accounting for higher rates of infection and death per capita than white residents — and officials say increased testing can help fix the disparity, The State reported.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control wants to ramp up testing in vulnerable communities, state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said.

‘Maintain social distancing’

Putting a stop to social distancing measures in South Carolina could open the door for coronavirus to rebound, state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell told members of the Midlands Coronavirus Task Force on Thursday, according to The State.

“We are at the plateau, but we are not on a downward trend, and we want to see a downward trend,” Bell said. While the state works to reopen its economy, “I cannot emphasize enough that we have to maintain social distancing.”

Coronavirus cuts SC tourism dollars in half

The state is expecting to pull in half the money from tourism it should be getting, as people aren’t vacationing amid the outbreak, and likewise, restaurant operations are hobbled.

South Carolina made $24.5 billion from tourism last year, but officials say by the end of 2020 they anticipate $12.2 billion, The State reported.

SC not following White House guidelines

South Carolina is reopening at a pace of its own, and isn’t following guidelines laid out by the White House designed to balance the country’s economic interests with public health and safety, The State reported.

The guidelines recommend states wait to see a consecutive 14-day decline in new coronavirus cases, but that drop off hasn’t arrived in South Carolina.

“We have not yet seen a consistent decline in case reports,” Bell said during a Monday press conference.

73,000 file new jobless claims

The number of new unemployment claims in South Carolina ticked down for the first time in weeks to 73,116 last week, The State reports. About 88,000 filed new jobless claims in the state the week before.

The new unemployment claims numbers are still much higher than normal, driven by businesses shutting down to help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

Between the middle of March and early April, more than 340,000 people filed for unemployment in South Carolina, according to the state Department of Employment and Workforce.

New recruits headed to Parris Island

New recruits arrived in Parris Island this week for the first time since the Marine Corps stopped sending would-be Marines to boot camp at the end of March as the coronavirus pandemic spread, The Island Packet reports.

The new recruits, two companies of 300 to 500 each, will first go into quarantine for 14 days and attend video classes, the Marine Corps said. That’s half the number that would normally arrive.

Schools will remain closed

School buildings in South Carolina will stay closed for the rest of the academic year and K-12 students will finish the semester through online and distance learning, Gov. Henry McMaster announced Wednesday.

Public schools have been closed since March 15 and had been scheduled to reopen at the end of April. The governor said he will issue a new formal order next week to keep schools closed for the rest of the school year.

According to The State: “In his Wednesday announcement, McMaster emphasized that districts would have ‘flexibility’ moving forward with instruction, and touched on high school graduation, a major concern for seniors across the state.”

This story was originally published April 25, 2020 at 8:08 AM.