Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Aug. 7

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

Deaths near 1,900

At least 97,554 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina, and 1,883 have died, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Friday reported an additional 1,265 confirmed cases of the virus. An additional 21 deaths were also reported, compared to 44 the day before.

More than 1,400 COVID-19 patients are in South Carolina hospitals, state data show, and 231 of them are on ventilators.

On Friday, 18.3% of coronavirus tests were positive. That percentage has dipped slightly over the last few weeks, from an average of about 20% each day to 18%. Nationally, about 8.7% of tests come back positive.

4 teachers at child care center infected

Learn 2 Grow, a daycare center in Lexington County, is temporarily closing down after four of the center’s 10 teachers tested positive for coronavirus.

The diagnoses came earlier this week and Learn 2 Grow decided to close until Aug. 15, owner Michele Pfenter told The State.

Officials with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control recommended that the daycare alert parents, and close areas of the building where the four teachers may have been, but Pfenter said it seemed best to shut down for a time.

“We’re literally doing everything and we can’t stop it,” she said.

Pfenter believes others were infected after one of the teachers caught the virus from a family member and came to work.

As far as she knows, none of the 62 children attending the day care have tested positive, Pfenter said.

11th inmate dies of COVID-19

Another South Carolina Department of Corrections inmate has died due to coronavirus, officials said Thursday.

Ernest Strong Jr., 77, tested positive at Perry Correctional Institution on July 15, was hospitalized July 27 and died Thursday. Strong is the 11th state prisons inmate to die as a result of the virus.

The department didn’t say if he had any underlying health conditions.

Defense lawyers oppose in-person trials

The South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers says it’s not safe for the state to resume in-person trials as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The group sent a letter last month to Chief Justice Donald Beatty to voice concerns. But the state’s first in-person jury trial since April is taking place now in Laurens County, The State reported.

“The members of the SCACDL all have a strong desire to be able to move client cases in a fair and speedy manner,” group president Andrew Potter wrote. “However, this desire does not alleviate the need to protect the health and welfare not only of our clients, but all the individuals involved in the Court system.”

At the trial Tuesday, everyone wore masks when required, and jurors were spaced apart from each other, according to The State.

New unemployment claims drop

More than 8,900 people filed initial unemployment claims in South Carolina last week, marking the smallest increase since the coronavirus pandemic began in the state.

The Department of Employment and Workforce on Thursday announced the numbers, which reflect new claims the week of July 26-Aug. 1. It’s the first time new claims have dipped below 10,000 since COVID-19 cases were first reported in South Carolina in mid-March, according to The State.

But the overall economic toll is staggering. More than 706,000 people have filed initial jobless claims in the past several months, and the state has paid out $3.6 billion.

Ed group: Coronavirus could worsen teacher shortage

The Palmetto State Teacher’s Association expressed concern that the coronavirus could drive more teachers out of the profession, worsening South Carolina’s teacher shortage.

“We don’t have enough. We didn’t have enough before this crisis,” Patrick Kelly, the group’s director of governmental affairs said, at a news conference. “This has the potential to exacerbate this crisis even further if we aren’t careful in how we approach it.”

The pandemic has fundamentally changed how the job is done, saddling teachers with new responsibilities and new stresses.

The news conference was held to announce a recent report from the organization, which shared findings from a survey of 1,200 South Carolina teachers. The group also called on state officials to improve conditions for both educators and students.

This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 7:03 AM.