Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on July 10

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

More than 50,000 cases reported

At least 52,273 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina, and 922 have died, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Friday reported 1,725 new cases. More than 1,000 cases have been reported each day but one since June 22.

DHEC reported 26 additional deaths Friday.

About 20% of COVID-19 tests have come back positive, according to state officials.

Worldwide, more than 12.4 million cases of the coronavirus and more than 559,000 deaths have been reported, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the United States, more than 3.1 million cases and more than 134,000 deaths have been reported.

2 in 5 SC teachers face higher risk from COVID-19

Two out of five staff members at South Carolina schools have underlying health conditions putting them at an increased risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19, according to a statewide survey, The State reported.

The survey was conducted by teacher advocacy group SC for Ed, and collected over 7,000 responses between July 6 and 9, according to the organization.

Obesity was the most common condition reported, followed by type 2 diabetes. There are well over a dozen other conditions recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as putting effected individuals at increased risk, including kidney disease, COPD, serious heart conditions, and more.

McMaster restricts alcohol sales

Gov. Henry McMaster announced Friday the state will start restricting alcohol sales to curb the spread of COVID-19 among young people.

Under the new rules, no alcohol will be served past 11 p.m. starting Saturday. Any bar or restaurant caught violating McMaster’s order could lose their liquor licenses, The State reports.

Adults under the age of 35 make up a majority of the recent spike in new cases in South Carolina, state health officials have said.

People between 21 and 30 account for 22% of all coronavirus cases in the state — the “highest percentage of any age group tracked” by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, The State reports.

No mask mandate

McMaster held his ground Friday in declining to issue a statewide mask mandate as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise, saying it would be impossible to enforce and could create a “false sense of security.”

“This is an order that a state can enforce,” McMaster said, referring to the new alcohol-related order. “Other things like masks ... the state has a very difficult (time) trying to enforce a statewide mask order because one size does not fit all.”

State health department officials have urged South Carolina residents to wear a mask for months, and several local governments have instituted their own mask requirements — including Beaufort, Charleston, Clemson, Columbia, Florence, Hilton Head, Horry County, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill and Spartanburg.

Cases at Duke’s Mayonnaise plant, produce farm

Several workers at a Duke’s Mayonnaise plant in Greenville County have tested positive for COVID-19, the company said in a statement Friday.

Representatives from Duke’s did not say how many employees had tested positive but said products from the facility are still safe for consumption.

“The safety of our products has never been in jeopardy, and we continue to work hard to meet the growing demand while ensuring the well-being of our people, who are our most valuable asset,” Martin Kelly, CEO of Duke’s parent company, Sauer Brands, said in the statement.

He also said the company has followed all safety guidelines outlined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Nonetheless, at our Mauldin plant we have had some employees test positive for COVID-19 and we’ve taken aggressive action as a result, including temporary closure of our facility for deep cleaning and providing mandatory testing among potentially exposed employees,” Kelly said.

Duke’s announcement comes at the same time a major produce farm in Lexington County revealed several workers had tested positive for the virus.

A spokesperson for the family-owned WP Rawl, which employs about 650 people, told The State on Friday that “fewer than 10” workers were infected. According to the spokesperson, the farm has followed recommendations from the CDC and instituted a daily “robust food safety and sanitation protocol.”

“The guidelines recommend infected employees quarantine for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms or until they have no fever for three days without the use of fever-reducing medicines and their other symptoms have improved,” The State reports. “Close contacts or those who live in the same home as coronavirus-positive workers are also supposed to self-isolate.”

SC agriculture commissioner tests positive

South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers has tested positive for 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 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 face capacity issues, 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.

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 it is trying to expand its 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 people 21 to 30 years old. Another 200 cases were in children and young adults ages 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 Island Packet.

What people are talking about

It’s no surprise that social media users in the Palmetto State are posting about the coronavirus as cases continue to climb. The University of South Carolina Social Media Insights Lab looked at what people are saying. Read more here.

This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 7:23 AM.