Stay at home on the Fourth of July to slow spread of COVID-19, SC officials say
Staying at home is the safest way to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday in South Carolina during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise on a daily basis, DHEC is urging South Carolinians to avoid group gatherings to help reduce the spread of the virus.
Health officials recommend families have “home-based festivities” on July 4. For those who do attend fireworks shows, DHEC is asking them to remain inside a vehicle.
“The virus is rapidly spreading across the state,” DHEC Public Health Director Dr. Joan Duwve said Tuesday in a news release. “... We’ve all given so much for so long, and we all want to be at our beautiful beaches, at our parks, our friends’ houses, our block parties and community events but I’m asking all of us to stay vigilant in the fight against this deadly virus. While we celebrate our country’s birthday, please help your communities, especially those who are at increased risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death. If we all pledge to wear our face masks, stay six feet apart, and wash our hands often, together we will reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.”
On Monday, 1,320 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed by health officials. That brings the overall total to 34,546 positive tests in South Carolina since March, according to DHEC. With four additional deaths reported by DHEC, the death toll in S.C. has risen to 717.
Several organizations and local governments have canceled events and fireworks displays because of the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. DHEC said it supports these decisions to cancel group activities across the state in order to protect communities from the virus.
The number of new positive cases in a day are the highest they’ve ever been, as is the number of people currently hospitalized due to COVID-19 complications, which is currently more than 1,000, according to DHEC. A lack of social distancing and mask-wearing is contributing to the state’s escalating numbers, health officals said.
“More and more of South Carolina’s positive cases are individuals who participated in group gatherings without keeping a safe distance from others or wearing masks,” officials said in the release.
Young people are increasingly testing positive for the virus as South Carolina has seen a 966% increase in newly reported cases among those between 11-20 years old, and 413% increase in those between 21-30.
“In addition to the disheartening increases in young people transmitting the virus to their family and friends, new data indicate that asymptomatic people can spread the virus more easily than initially thought,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said in the release. “If you’ve tested positive but don’t have symptoms, it’s imperative that you complete your quarantine period in order to not spread the virus to others while you’re contagious.”
While shopping for groceries and other necessities, residents should wear a mask or cloth face covering, stay six feet away from others and immediately clean their hands with sanitizer or soap and water after arriving home, according to the release. Individuals who are ill should stay home, health officials said.
Several local governments in the state have begun requiring face masks for anyone in public.
This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 11:11 AM.
