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

Cases top 5,800

At least 5,881 people in South Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 232 have died as of Wednesday, according to state health officials.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 130 new cases and 11 deaths Wednesday, plus another 29 deaths that had previously been unreported. The deaths were older residents from Beaufort, Berkeley, Clarendon, and Greenville counties, DHEC said, and five middle-aged residents from Clarendon, Florence, Greenville, and Richland counties.

The number of coronavirus cases in South Carolina is likely much higher than what’s being reported, health officials say. On Monday, DHEC said it projects 40,000 cases throughout the state.

More than 3.2 million cases of COVID-19 and 227,000 deaths have been reported worldwide, with more than 1 million cases and 60,000 deaths reported in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University.

DHEC discovers 29 additional deaths

There have been 29 more coronavirus deaths in South Carolina than previously reported, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control announced Wednesday. The deaths were missed in official counts due to faulty reporting from state and local officials, according to the DHEC.

That brings the total fatalities to 232, up from the 203 figure DHEC released earlier in the day, The State reported.

“As our state continues to respond to this unprecedented event, DHEC remains committed to ensuring that every South Carolinian who has died from COVID-19 is counted,” said Brannon Traxler, an agency physician. “This action aligns with efforts currently underway by other states and will assist us in more fully understanding the burden of this disease across the state and those populations who are most severely affected.”

Outdoor dining

A South Carolina restaurant group wants the state to allow restaurants to reopen for outdoor dining by May 4, and to allow indoor dining by May 18, The State reported.

The S.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association made the suggestion at the Wednesday meeting of Accelerate SC, a group formed by Gov. Henry McMaster to strategize and take action toward restoring the state’s economy.

The association also released a list of guidelines for restaurants to follow in order to keep customers and employees safe, according to the outlet.

“We definitely want to get back in business, but we have to do it as safely as possible,” said Bobby Williams, the chairman of the restaurant association and the CEO of Lizard’s Thicket.

SC forms school reopening task force

The AcceleratEd Task Force, announced Wednesday, will help guide and make recommendations for operating schools under the threat of coronavirus, when they open back up for the fall semester.

The group will be made up of K-12 educators, The State reported.

“We know that virus has the potential to cause disruptions over the summer and into the next school year and want to be prepared to meet those challenges with common sense solutions that allow for continued learning while protecting the well-being of students and educators,” S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said in a statement.

This story was originally published April 29, 2020 at 7:33 AM.