Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on May 13

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

Latest coronavirus numbers

At least 8,030 people in South Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 362 have died, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 133 new cases of the virus and seven additional deaths on Wednesday.

Patients who died were residents of Clarendon, Florence, Greenville, Lexington, Marion, and Richland counties, according to health officials.

Worldwide, more than 4.3 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported and more than 297,000 people have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 1.3 million cases and 84,000 deaths have been reported in the United States.

McMaster concerned over lack of masks

“People need to be careful,” Gov. Henry McMaster said Wednesday, expressing concern over a perceived lack of people wearing masks and observing social distancing, The State reported.

“You don’t need a mask everywhere, but there are many places where you do need one. Again, we urge people to pay attention to what (the) health authorities are saying.”

His statements echoed those of state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell.

“I am rather alarmed by the fact that as I try and restrict my activities in public, when I do go out, I would say that 10% of people in the businesses and stores when I have been out this past weekend had on masks,” Bell said. “From a policy standpoint, reinforcing what we can to do to prevent disease is equally important, perhaps, as finding disease that’s already present.”

School reopening guidance

Schools could start hearing recommendations on reopening from the AcceleratEd task force as soon as June 1, The State reported.

Comprised of South Carolina K-12 educators, guidance from the task force “could include ways to socially distance on school buses, how to split up classes, what to do about summer school/makeup days and more,” according to the outlet.

S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman tempered expectations, saying that recommendations offered are subject to change depending on how the coronavirus pandemic develops.

Horry County drops state of emergency

Horry County Council members voted to end the state of emergency in the county Wednesday, The Sun News reports. But the biggest cities in Horry, including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and Conway voted to keep their states of emergency in place as they work to reopen the tourist-driven economy during the pandemic.

Georgetown County, just south of Horry County, voted to continue its state of emergency.

“Canceling the formal state of emergency ordinance is largely a matter of appearances,” The Sun News reports.

USC students could get relief funds

The University of South Carolina says it plans to distribute more than $10 million in federal relief funds to eligible students, The State reports.

The money will go to more than 20,000 students at the university through the UofSC CARES plan, the school said in a news release.

Students who get federal loans or Pell Grants, and had direct expenses from when the school shutdown for the pandemic, will be eligible for to get their share of the funding, The State reports.

Absentee voting allowed for June primary

State legislators passed a bill Tuesday that will allow registered primary voters to request absentee ballots for the June 9 primary, according to The State.

This will ensure all South Carolinians registered to vote can still do so even if they would rather avoid the polls due to coronavirus concerns. The governor is expected to sign the measure into law.

The bill sunsets on July 1, according to The State, and will not be in effect for the November General Election.

USC considers furloughs

The University of South Carolina may discuss furloughing staff and cutting programs to make up for financial losses caused by the coronavirus, an internal email from Faculty Senate Chair Mark Cooper said, according to The State.

Cooper said USC’s budget shortfall is likely to be twice as bad as what the university faced in 2008 during the Great Recession.

“In addition to hiring freezes and across-the-board reductions, we can anticipate furloughs, with sharper cuts for high-income administrators,” Cooper said in the email.

Miss SC competition postponed

The annual Miss South Carolina competition is being pushed back to June 2021, The State reported.

Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization, which hosts the competition as well as the Miss South Carolina Teen contest, made the announcement Tuesday.

“Nothing is more important to us than the health and well-being of our candidates, their families, our competition volunteers, production team members and our South Carolina Princesses and Princes,” said Erin Gambrell, chair of the board for the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization, in a statement. “We had already delayed the state competitions until August 1st but feel it is best to wait until next year so we are aligned with the plans of our national organization.”

State approves $200 million to fight COVID-19

The South Carolina legislature voted to set aside $155 million to combat the coronavirus, and another $25 million to the Medical University of South Carolina to help fund testing, The State reported.

Also included is $15 million to protect voters and poll workers during the upcoming elections.

DMV offices to reopen

Most South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles offices will be back open five days a week starting Wednesday, The State reports. People will still need to make an appointment at SCDMVonline.com.

Two DMV offices, in Allendale and McCormick, will continue to only be open on Wedensdays, according to the department.

This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 7:27 AM.