Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on July 23

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

SC surpasses 76,000 confirmed cases

At least 76,315 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 1,294 have died, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Thursday reported 1,538 new confirmed cases of the virus and 49 additional deaths, up from 39 on Wednesday.

Charleston County had the most new coronavirus cases reported Thursday, with 172. In the Midlands, Richland County reported 137, and Lexington County reported 69.

Prisma Health’s hospitalizations doubled in a month

Prisma Health has 300 inpatients with coronavirus, the health care system announced Thursday, more than double the 143 COVID-19 hospitalizations it had on June 23, The State reported.

“We continue to have bed capacity as well as adequate medical supplies and personal protective equipment needed to care for our patients and team members,” Dr. Scott Sasser, incident commander for Prisma’s COVID-19 response, said in an email.

Preparing for the worst, Sasser said Prisma is going to head off potential staff shortages by bringing back furloughed nurses, training nurses to handle different duties, and hire traveling nurses. More doctors have also recently been hired, Sasser said.

Michelin backs officials calling for COVID-19 safety

Michelin North America, one of the largest manufacturing companies in South Carolina, is calling on people to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines to control the virus’ spread, The State reported.

Flanked by state health officials at a Thursday press in Greenville, Michelin North America president and chair Alexis Garcin urged South Carolinians to wear masks, social distance, and avoid large crowds.

“A second shutdown would have a dramatic effect on our economy, not to mention the lives of our friends, family (and) neighbors,” Garcin said.

Michelin employs more than 8,000 people statewide, according to the company.

DHEC holds bilingual briefing for Latinos

To better reach South Carolina’s Hispanic and Latino population, the Department of Health and Environmental Control held a bilingual video briefing on COVID-19, providing need-to-know information and answering questions from community members, with help from a Spanish-speaking translator, the Island Packet reported.

Though they represent 6% of the state’s total population, Hispanics and Latinos account for 11% of total coronavirus cases.

USC: students must get tested before move-in

The University of South Carolina will require students to show proof they’ve been tested for the coronavirus before they’re allowed to move into on-campus housing, The State reported.

Students must submit one of the following to the university’s My Health Space portal before arriving on campus:

▪ Proof of prior COVID-19 infection;

▪ Proof of presence of COVID-19 antibodies;

▪ Proof of negative COVID-19 test results taken within 10 days of scheduled move in.

Anyone who doesn’t submit the proper documentation will have to quarantine in non-university housing, at their own expense, until test results are made available.

Clemson to start semester with online classes

Though Clemson University has said for months it would resume in-person classes in the fall, the school changed its stance Wednesday, announcing that the first few weeks will be held remotely, The State reported.

“The safety of our Clemson community is paramount,” University president Jim Clements said on Twitter. “As a result, we will start the semester online and delay in-person classes by 4 weeks due to the progression of COVID-19 in South Carolina and the Upstate region.”

In-person classes are now scheduled to start Sept. 21, and a new student move-in date has been set for Sept. 13.

Top election official worries about November

State Election Commission Director Marci Andino is raising the alarm about possible coronavirus-related problems with the November election.

Andino wrote to the heads of the state House and Senate to ask for help to prepare for the election. In the letter, he asked “that immediate action be taken so election officials have as much time as possible to ensure we can rise to the greatest challenge to our election system our state has ever seen,” according to The State.

The presidential election is expected to draw high turnout for the more than 3.3 million voters in South Carolina. The elections chief said staff could have trouble getting a quick count on absentee ballots and may face a shortage of poll workers or have to consolidate polling places, The State reports. Andino also said he was worried about social distancing at polling places.

He asked lawmakers to expand absentee voting so polls don’t get crowded and people are able to vote without waiting in line or worrying about catching the virus while voting.

This story was originally published July 23, 2020 at 6:42 AM.