Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on July 9

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

More than 50,000 cases confirmed

At least 50,548 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina, and 897 have died, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Thursday reported 1,723 new cases. More than 1,000 cases have been reported each day but one since June 22.

DHEC reported 22 additional deaths Thursday.

Worldwide, more than 12.2 million cases of the coronavirus and more than 553,000 deaths have been reported, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the United States, more than 3.1 million cases and more than 133,000 deaths have been reported.

SC ag commissioner tests positive

South Carolina agriculture commissioner Hugh Weathers has caught the coronavirus, he announced Thursday.

Weathers said he was tested Monday after a “suspected exposure,” The State reported, and is experiencing only mild symptoms from the virus.

The commissioner is among a handful of South Carolina government officials to test positive for COVID-19, joining U.S. Reps. Joe Cunningham and Tom Rice, as well as State Rep. Kambrell Garvin.

Coronavirus plus flu could fill up SC hospitals, DHEC warns

State epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell warned Thursday that if the coronavirus outbreak isn’t under control by the time flu season returns, South Carolina hospitals could hit max capacity, The State reports.

It’s a scenario the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control is already planning for.

“If we layer COVID-19 on top of the flu as we move into the fall, it’s just another thing we have to anticipate and plan for,” Bell said during an Instagram Live with U.S. Sen. Tim Scott. “It’s a reason for us to adopt every possible prevention measure now so that we do not max out our hospital capacity.”

Bell once again encouraged residents to practice good social distancing and to wear masks, and said it’s never too late to flatten the curve.

“I often get asked a question about this curve, is it too late? Well I would ... ask people to think about the fact there are some of those people who are in the hospital now, who may be in an ICU bed, or who who may be on a ventilator who it actually ultimately will be too late for,” Bell said.

“Can we please pay attention to the number of people who are in the population now, who it’s not too late for? There’s so much we can do to prevent these hospitalizations and additional deaths if we take dramatic measures now and not ask ourselves, what we could have done differently?”

Hospital considers calling National Guard

Increasing coronavirus cases and more people who need hospital beds on the Grand Strand mean at least one hospital is considering asking the National Guard for help, The Sun News reports.

Tidelands Health told the newspaper that they are trying to expand their staff as the number of people hospitalized for the virus increases quickly. Tidelands said other hospitals in the state are also seeing the number of patients who need beds going up.

A Tidelands spokeswoman said they are also trying to recruit more staff, offer incentives for taking on more shifts and considering delaying elective surgeries.

Youth drive Beaufort virus surge

New cases in teenagers and young adults are driving a spike in coronavirus cases in Beaufort County, The Island Packet reports.

DHEC data shows about a quarter of the new confirmed cases last month — 225 of almost 900 — were from people 21 to 30 years old. Another 200 cases were in children and young adults aged 11 to 20.

Those age groups account for almost half of the confirmed cases in the Lowcountry county in June.

State public health officials say they’re seeing cases in children and young adults spike across the state, according to The Packet.

SC is a global coronavirus hot spot

If South Carolina were a country, it would have the third highest COVID-19 infection rate in the world, data show.

Only Arizona and Florida are faring worse, figures from The New York Times show. In fourth place, just after South Carolina, is the nation of Bahrain, followed by Louisiana.

In a separate study by the Harvard Global Health Institute, researchers say at least 19 counties in the Palmetto State are at the “tipping point” of losing control of the outbreak, up from 11 last week.

Richland County reopening pools, with new rules

Richland County is opening three public swimming pools — the Eastover Park Pool, St. Andrews Park Pool and Trenholm Pool — but with new rules and procedures to prevent coronavirus spread, The State reported.

Only 50 swimmers at a time will be allowed in any of the pools, for a maximum of one hour, and anyone who wants to take a dip will have to reserve their visit online in advance.

Chairs and life jackets won’t be provided, so it’s up to visitors to supply their own. Social distancing and mask rules are enforced when out of the water, on the pool deck and locker rooms.

The pools are open 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Record number in hospitals

There were 1,404 patients in South Carolina’s hospitals with COVID-19 as of Wednesday, The State reported, an increase from the record high set Tuesday.

South Carolina has 7,734 hospital beds in total, and is currently at 75.5% capacity with 2,587 beds available.

Gov. Henry McMaster has said the state has a plan ready if the problem continues to get worse, and added that he may order elective procedures postponed once again, if necessary.

This story was originally published July 9, 2020 at 7:21 AM.