Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on June 17
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Record numbers continue
At least 20,551 people in South Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 617 have died, according to state health officials.
On Wednesday, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported an additional 577 cases of the virus, continuing the state’s record-breaking streak of new coronavirus cases. DHEC officials have recorded at least 350 new cases each day since June 4.
State health officials also reported 10 additional deaths in Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Greenville, Horry, Lancaster, Lexington, and York counties.
More than 8.2 million cases of COVID-19 and 445,000 deaths have been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the United States, more than 2.1 million cases and 117,000 deaths have been reported.
Tourists say they contracted COVID-19 in Myrtle Beach
Three tourists who went to Myrtle Beach recently say they contracted the coronavirus while on vacation, according to The Sun News.
The tourists, all from from Preston County, West Virginia, tested positive after they visited the beach town, the county health department said.
Horry County has seen COVID-19 cases spike in recent weeks.
Models show deaths could surge
Coronavirus deaths could surge in South Carolina, with more than 2,800 dead by Oct. 1, according to data from the University of Washington. The statistical model shows that more than 200,000 people in the United States could die from COVID-19 by the same date, McClatchy News reports.
Outbreak at Loris nursing home
A nursing home in Loris, in Horry County not far from North Myrtle Beach, has the highest number of cases for a nursing home in the state over the past 30 days, DHEC said.
The Loris Rehab and Nursing Center reported 46 residents tested positive for the virus, including seven who died over the past 30 days, according to The Sun News. Twenty staff members also tested positive for the coronavirus during the same time period, the newspaper reports.
Where to get tested
There are 173 permanent COVID-19 testing sites in South Carolina. The list of screening sites and details on getting tested are available on the DHEC website.
DHEC also has 88 mobile testing events scheduled around the state. The mobile testing sites are part of the state’s efforts to test more people in rural and underserved communities in South Carolina. More information on the mobile coronavirus testing schedule is available on the DHEC site.
Columbia may require masks
The Columbia City Council looked at a proposed ordinance Tuesday that would require masks be worn in a variety of situations, The State reported.
No action was taken, but the council wants residents to weigh in. A decision could be made soon on whether to adopt the ordinance, as Mayor Steve Benjamin said an emergency meeting may be called before the next scheduled meeting July 7.
Instances where masks would have to be worn include “anyone inside a public building or waiting to enter a public building; anyone interacting with someone within six feet in an outdoor space; anyone engaged in business in a private space; using public or private transportation, or walking in public where maintaining a six-foot distance from others may not be possible,” The State reported.
Restaurants split on face mask requirement
Columbia-area restaurants are divided on whether their employees should be required to wear face coverings.
State health officials, and S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster, have “urged restaurants to take abundant precautions” but do not currently require restaurant employees to wear masks, The State reports.
In a random visit to 12 locally owned restaurants in and around downtown Columbia, The State found fewer than half enforced face mask rules for their employees. They had, however, instituted other safety measures, such as distancing tables and replacing condiment bottles with individual packets.
What people are talking about
The sharp rise in coronavirus cases in North Carolina has been getting lots of social media attention, according to an analysis by the University of South Carolina Social Media Insights Lab. Read more here.
This story was originally published June 17, 2020 at 7:37 AM.