Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Aug. 10
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases top 100,000
At least 100,431 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 1,966 have died, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Monday reported an additional 718 cases of the virus — one of the lowest daily totals in weeks — down from 1,011 the day before.
An additional 17 deaths were reported Monday, compared with 18 on Sunday. On Saturday, 67 were reported — one of the state’s highest daily increases in deaths since the start of the pandemic.
South Carolina has reported more than 1,000 daily cases almost every day since June 24, The State reports. Last week, daily counts ranged from 1,163 to 1,422. Between Aug. 9 and Aug. 15, the DHEC expects 9,334 new cases.
The DHEC on Monday reported 12% of tests were positive, down slightly from 12.9% Sunday and lower than the percentage has been over the last few weeks. About 8.7% of tests come back positive nationally.
At least 1,353 people in South Carolina were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Monday, with 217 patients on ventilators, according to the DHEC.
All school reopening plans approved
Every school district reopening plan has been approved by the South Carolina Department of Education, with the final 14 plans signed off on Monday.
“With reopening plans now approved, I am asking every South Carolinian to support their local school in the reopening process,” S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said in a statement. “Whether it is driving a neighbor’s child to school, providing temporary child care, supporting an educator, or simply wearing a face mask and practicing social distancing, every person in our state can help us get back to full face to face instruction as quickly and safely as possible.”
Richland 2 was the largest of the last 14 districts and is offering an online-only option as well as the option to phase in in-person instruction.
Here’s the full list of those 14:
- Blackville-Hilda Public Schools (Barnwell 19)
- Charter Institute at Erskine
- Chester County School District
- Clarendon School District Two
- Colleton County School District
- Fairfield County School District
- Florence County School District 2
- Florence County School District 3
- Ware Shoals School District 51 (Greenwood 51)
- Greenwood County School District 52
- Horry County Schools
- Richland School District Two
- S.C. Public Charter School District
- Sumter School District
McMaster asks DHEC to release school case counts
As many South Carolina schools return to in-person instruction, Gov. Henry McMaster is asking the state Department of Health and Environmental Control to track and share coronavirus case counts by school district.
“I ask that the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control ... begin developing a process to collect, compile and disclose information regarding confirmed COVID-19 cases among students and staff in every school district in the state,” McMaster wrote in his Aug. 10 letter to Mark Elam, chairman of DHEC’s board.
McMaster asked that the data be made available on a daily basis.
State epidemiologist says governor’s office misled public
State epidemiologist Linda Bell says Gov. Henry McMaster’s staff misled the public about her stance on reopening some businesses in South Carolina during the pandemic.
Bell, who has overseen much of the state’s pandemic response, said she regrets not speaking out more forcefully about her agency’s COVID-19 positions, according to internal Department of Health and Environmental Control documents obtained by The State newspaper.
She said the governor’s office made it seem she supported reopening indoor restaurant dining and barbershops earlier than the DHEC actually advised, the documents show.
Bell said the governor’s staff was “somewhat manipulative” during meetings about the coronavirus and that she will no longer stand by him “without speaking to what the science tells us is the right thing to do.’’
Officials warn about asymptomatic cases
South Carolina health officials are warning the public about high rates of COVID-19 infections among people who don’t show any symptoms.
Those with asymptomatic coronavirus cases likely don’t know they are carrying the virus.
“Evidence is increasing about the high rates of infection in people who do not have symptoms and don’t know they are infectious,” the DHEC said in a statement. “This places everyone at risk of getting the virus or unknowingly transmitting it to someone else.”
Health officials say as many as 86% of the state’s residents who have had the virus haven’t been tested. Under that scenario, officials estimate more than 700,000 people in South Carolina have likely contracted COVID-19 since March.
To slow the spread of COVID-19 among those without symptoms, the DHEC launched the “Fight the Spread” campaign, which encourages South Carolinians to wear masks in public, practice social distancing and get tested for the virus.
This story was originally published August 10, 2020 at 7:22 AM.
