Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on May 9
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 7,500 test positive
At least 7,537 people in South Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 330 have died, according to state health officials.
On Saturday, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 168 new cases of COVID-19 and 10 new deaths.
Eight of the deaths announced Saturday were of older people, with two reported in Lexington and Richland counties and one each from Charleston, Clarendon, Greenville and Williamsburg counties, according to DHEC. Two other deaths, in Berkeley and Fairfield counties, were middle-aged people.
More than 3.9 million cases of the coronavirus and more than 277,000 deaths have been reported worldwide. In the United States, more than 1.3 million cases and nearly 78,000 deaths have been reported, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Indoor dining to return soon
Starting Monday, South Carolina restaurants can offer indoor dining again, Gov. Henry McMaster announced Friday.
The decision will allow restaurants enough time to prepare, buy supplies and hire staffing, officials said, according to The State.
There are still some social distancing rules restaurants will have to follow. Dining rooms can’t exceed 50% capacity, and tables must be 6 to 8 feet apart.
Decision soon on gyms, salons
An announcement could be made as soon as Monday on when gyms, salons and similar “close physical contact” businesses can reopen, The State reported.
“That includes such things as barber shops, hair salons, nail salons and gyms,” McMaster said Friday. “Those are the close personal contact that have been discussed by Accelerate SC, and we hope to have a decision made and announced as early as Monday on those.”
Such businesses have been shuttered for more than a month, according to The State.
Boating restrictions lifted
McMaster also announced Friday that all boating restrictions implemented in response to the coronavirus outbreak are now lifted.
This means boaters can once again use public docks and other access points and are allowed to beach their boats, according to The State.
Nursing home deaths exceed 100
Nursing homes and care facilities account for one-third of all coronavirus-related deaths in South Carolina, according to the DHEC.
Two staff members and 105 patients from nursing homes have died, according to The State.
Pandemic hits state budget
Revenue for the state was down more than 40% last month, about $400 million from where budget forecasters thought it would be, The State reports.
Several factors are hitting the budget during the pandemic, including delayed state tax payments during the public health emergency and a drop in sales tax revenue because people have not been able to go to restaurants, bars and many retail stores, according to The State.
DHEC: No county-level testing data
State public health officials say they want to increase testing to check about 110,000 people per month for coronavirus, The Sun News reports. But when asked for a breakdown of the number of tests already given by county, officials with DHEC said that information was not available.
DHEC said it hopes to begin testing more with pop-up testing centers in urban and tourism-heavy areas like Myrtle Beach, The Sun News reports. The state is also pushing to test every resident and staff member in the state’s nursing homes, which are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks.
Meat shortages hit some restaurants
Some restaurants in the Columbia area, which are allowed to reopen for outdoor dining this week, are facing meat shortages, The State reports. Restaurant owners told the newspaper that their suppliers didn’t have enough meat in stock and ready to ship out when restaurants reopened.
There are also national problems with the meat supply. Several slaughter houses and packing plants around the country have had outbreaks among employees, forcing large meat factories to close to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published May 9, 2020 at 8:01 AM.
