Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on July 20
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 71,000 confirmed cases
At least 71,213 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 1,147 have died, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Monday reported 1,445 new confirmed cases of the virus. That’s down from the record 2,335 cases of the virus DHEC reported Sunday.
Cases reported during the last three weeks have accounted for nearly half of all cases reported since March. This past week, daily cases ranged from 1,520 to 2,241. The week before, they ranged from 1,319 to 1,885, The State reports. Health officials predict 15,182 new confirmed cases in the coming week.
On Monday, public health officials reported 9 confirmed new deaths from the coronavirus.
It is unclear how many people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as South Carolina has changed how it reports on hospitalizations at the request of the federal government.
SC senator supports school reopening despite backlash
Chairman of the state Senate Education Committee is standing by comments that virtual education in South Carolina deserves a “D-” and that schools must offer an option for in-person classes this fall, the Sun News reported.
Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Horry, has received backlash from educators over his comments but isn’t backing down.
“Just because you work hard on something in good faith doesn’t mean it’s going to be successful,” he said Monday. “I don’t think there’s any real shame in that, but we have to be honest about it. We can’t just say it works when it’s not working.”
Health officials have recommended that, in areas where COVID-19 activity is high, schools should resort to virtual learning only, the outlet reported.
$32 million for private schools
Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday said the state will give $32 million to private K-12 schools in South Carolina from federal coronavirus relief funds.
The grants are intended to help 5,000 students who otherwise couldn’t afford private school tuition, with an average of about $6,500 per student, The State reports. The funding comes from the federal CARES Act, which set aside money specifically for governors to decide how to use for education.
The announcement comes a week after McMaster called on South Carolina’s public school systems to open in person for the fall.
McMaster pushes reopening, rejects mask mandate
The governor continues to push to reopen South Carolina and is rejecting a mask mandate despite surging cases and increased alarm from health experts and local leaders, The State reported Sunday.
South Carolina has become a global hot spot for the coronavirus pandemic, and many local governments around the state now require people to wear masks.
But the governor has reiterated that he won’t issue a mask requirement for South Carolinians — saying it’s against personal liberties and difficult to enforce — and has said he won’t shut businesses back down. Last week, he urged school districts to to restart full-time, in-person instruction by Labor Day week.
Critics — including health experts, hospital officials, religious leaders, local leaders and teachers — say South Carolina needs to be much more aggressive in implementing safety measures to curb the spread of the virus, The State reports.
South Carolina is one of more than a dozen states that don’t have face mask requirements. Although McMaster has stopped short of a mandate, he’s encouraged people to wear them and has donned one at his press conferences.
“Everyone should wear a mask,” McMaster said last week. “But we cannot force people to do what they don’t want to do.”
Monkey facility gets millions in COVID-19 contract
A monkey breeding facility in South Carolina received a $4.6 million coronavirus-related federal contract — one of the largest in the state.
Alpha Genesis Inc., a primate research company in Beaufort County, received the contract in June from the National Institutes of Health for “maintenance” of pathogen-free Macaque monkey breeding colonies, The Island Packet reported Sunday. It’s set to be completed in September 2024.
The NIH told a reporter in early July to file a public records request for more information about the contract, including how the monkeys would be used for coronavirus research, the Island Packet reported. A request was pending as of Thursday.
An animal welfare group is questioning the contract as the facility was recently accused of negligence that resulted in the deaths of several monkeys.
The Ohio-based organization, Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture after obtaining incident reports sent to the NIH by Alpha Genetics after the deaths of at least 11 monkeys in 2019 and 2018. They died of thirst, exposure to the elements and other injures, per the complaint.
“Why do you continue to fund a facility that does such a poor job?” Michael Budkie, executive director of SAEN, said. “Why do you reward a company that can’t even keep its animals alive?”
This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 7:04 AM.
