Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on June 22
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases top 25,000
At least 25,666 people in South Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 659 have died, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Monday reported an additional 1,002 cases of the virus, marking the fifth consecutive day case counts have surpassed 900.
Health officials also reported an additional six deaths Monday — in Clarendon, Darlington, Greenville , Marion, Lancaster, and Richland counties.
More than 9 million cases of COVID-19 and 470,000 deaths have been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the United States, more than 2.3 million cases and 120,000 deaths have been reported.
Return to school unlikely under current trends
Molly Spearman, the state Superintendent of Education, said a return to in-person classes by this fall is unlikely if coronavirus continues to spread, and cases continue to rise, as they have in recent weeks, The State reported.
“If it continues on the same path we’re on right now it’s going to be extremely difficult for us to be able to go back face-to-face,” Spearman said at a Monday news conference. “Hopefully we’ll see a change and things will start decreasing.”
Dominion extends ‘no disconnect’ policy
As coronavirus case counts continue to rise in South Carolina, Dominion Energy says it will not be disconnecting any customers’ power until mid-September, The State reported.
The company has had a moratorium on disconnections since March in response to financial challenges many are facing as a result of the coronavirus, and was legally required to do so until May 14. Dominion has been offering improved financial assistance and flexible payment plans as well.
“We are committed to making it easy for customers to work with us and to find payment arrangements or plans that best match their individual budgets and circumstances,” Rodney Blevins, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina, said in a press release. “This is a difficult time for everyone. We want to help make it a little less stressful.”
More Myrtle Beach vacationers infected
A group of about 90 students from Ohio and neighboring West Virginia visited Myrtle Beach, and now 14 of them have tested positive for the coronavirus, The Sun News reports.
The students returned to Belmont County, Ohio, on June 14 and some started to show symptoms of the virus five days later, Ohio public health officials said. The new outbreak comes a week after dozens of people in West Virginia tested positive for COVID-19 after vacationing in Myrtle Beach.
Debating legal protections for businesses
Lawmakers are debating whether to give legal protection to South Carolina businesses that open as the coronavirus pandemic continues to grow. The legislation could protect companies from lawsuits if customers or employees catch the virus at the business, The State reports.
The South Carolina House and Senate have two different proposals in the works that would protect businesses from legal liability for being open during the pandemic, according to The State. The Senate bill is broader and would give workers’ compensation benefits to employees who contract the virus on the job.
Both bills include guidelines for businesses to follow to stop the spread of the virus, but what those guidelines are and how strictly they would be enforced is still up for debate, The State reports.
Increase in positive tests
The percentage of positive coronavirus tests has been increasing in South Carolina, The State reports.
During the week of June 8, the percentage of tests coming back positive was around 10% to 12%. The following week, the percentage ranged from about 9% to a new high of 16.2% on Saturday. On Sunday, the percentage of positive tests was 16.1%.
South Carolina has the third highest rate of positive tests in the country, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The state health department and partners have 63 mobile testing units across South Carolina, which saw long lines of people Friday and Saturday. But health officials say that when the percent positive is high, it may indicate there isn’t enough testing being done to capture the spread of the virus.
Sunday marked the fourth consecutive day with more than 900 cases reported in South Carolina.
Health officials expect 4,354 new cases will be reported in the coming week. They ask that everyone wear a face mask and practice social distancing in public, but that appears to be far from what people are actually doing in many communities.
“Every one of us has a role to play in stopping COVID-19,” Linda Bell, state epidemiologist for the Department of Health and Environmental Control, said last week. “This virus does not spread on its own. It’s spread around our state by infected people who carry it wherever they go — their work, the supermarket, the post office, a friend’s house. By not following public health precautions, many are putting all at risk.”
Protesters encouraged to get tested
Those who have participated in protests at South Carolina’s State House should get tested for COVID-19 immediately, an organizer said on Facebook on Sunday.
Four organizers of the I Can’t Breathe SC protests, along with six protesters and three photographers, said they have tested positive, organizer Lawrence Nathaniel said in the Facebook video.
Anyone at the protests between May 30 and June 17 should get a test, according to Nathaniel.
Protesters at events in Charleston and Greenville have also tested positive, The State reports.
“We need to do our part,” Nathaniel said. “Go get tested. Don’t come to a protest until you get tested.”
This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 7:06 AM.
