Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on May 11
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases top 7,700
At least 7,792 people in South Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 346 have died, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 140 new cases of the virus and 15 additional deaths on Monday.
Patients who died were residents of Charleston, Clarendon, Fairfield, Florence, Hampton, Lancaster, Lexington, Richland, and Sumter counties.
Worldwide, more than 4.1 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported and more than 285,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 1.3 million cases and 80,000 deaths have been reported in the United States.
State employees will return to work soon
Gov. Henry McMaster announced Monday that state employees ordered to work from home will be returning to their offices by June 3, at the very latest.
For nearly two months, over 55,000 state workers have been doing their jobs from home, The State reported. Meanwhile, 19,000 others couldn’t work from home and have remained on the job as normal.
More openings
McMaster said close contact businesses, including gyms, barber shops and salons, will be allowed to reopen as soon as next week, The State reported.
“With our increased capacity for testing the people of our state, it is time to responsibly and gradually get these small businesses back up and running,” McMaster said.
SC meets contact tracing goal
South Carolina now has over 1,800 contact tracers at its disposal, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control announced Monday.
Contact tracers can help prevent future COVID-19 outbreaks by identifying how infected patients came into contact with the virus. DHEC now has 400 contact tracers on staff, with access to another 1,400 provided through two private companies, The State reported.
“With increased testing there will be an increase in the number of positive cases reported,” state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said in a statement. “This means we will need to increase the extent of its contact tracing, and we are prepared to do so.”
Calls to mental health hotline surge
Calls from South Carolina phone numbers to the federal Disaster Distress Helpline increased 1,300% between February and April, according to The Island Packet, the highest level in four years.
During April, when statewide lockdown measures were being implemented in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the number of calls peaked, according to the outlet.
Indoor dining permitted
Restaurants in South Carolina can start offering indoor dining again as of Monday after Gov. Henry McMaster announced the change on Friday.
Previously, only takeout and delivery services were permitted. But the decision whether to allow customers to dine inside will now be left up to individual restaurants.
Some social distancing rules are in still in place. Restaurants can’t operate past 50% of their capacity and tables must be at least 6 to 8 feet apart.
Announcement on other businesses
Gov. Henry McMaster has said he may announce as soon as Monday when businesses such as salons and gyms will be allowed to reopen.
The businesses have been closed for more than a month.
“On Monday, I will likely address the close, physical-contact service businesses,” McMaster said Friday, according to The State. “That includes such things as barber shops, hair salons, nail salons and gyms. Those are the close personal contact that have been discussed by accelerateSC, and we hope to have a decision made and announced as early as Monday on those.”
Allegations against hospital
A labor union says the Columbia Veterans Affairs hospital is not adequately protecting workers from COVID-19.
The American Federation of Government Employees Local 1915 alleges in a news release that the hospital has not provided enough PPE to employees, has not allowed some of them to work remotely, has denied paid sick leave to those who have been exposed to the virus and has not provided enough training on how to prevent the spread of the virus.
The group held a protest Saturday calling on the hospital to address its concerns. About 20 people attended, The State reported Sunday.
The State has been unable to reach the Columbia or national VA for comment.
This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 7:14 AM.
