Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Aug. 12

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

More than 2,000 have died

At least 102,143 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 2,057 have died, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Wednesday reported an additional 712 cases of the virus — the third day in a row fewer than 1,000 new cases have been reported. Case counts have been gradually trending down over the last two weeks.

An additional 45 deaths were reported Wednesday, after 45 were also reported on Tuesday.

The DHEC on Wednesday reported 19.6% of tests were positive, compared to 20% the day before. About 8.7% of tests come back positive nationally.

At least 1,366 people in South Carolina were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Wednesday, with 206 patients on ventilators, according to the DHEC.

DHEC: Wearing masks is working

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control shared new findings Wednesday that show mask use is slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

Communities with mask orders are seeing a decrease in new cases by an average of 15.1% during the four weeks after they passed their mandates. Meanwhile, areas without mask mandates saw an increase of 30% over the same time frame.

“This new data shows us what we already knew, wearing face masks works,” State Epidemiologist Linda Bell said in a statement. “We’re strongly supportive of these local leaders’ initiatives that are centered on protecting the health and well-being of their communities.”

Schools to receive millions in protective equipment

Gov. Henry McMaster announced the state will receive $10 million for masks, gloves, cleaning supplies, and other personal protective equipment to provide to schools.

Supplies will be divided among all 70 South Carolina schools districts that applied, McMaster said.

The funds paid for hundreds of thousands of cloth and KN95 masks, 46,000 pairs of gloves, 237,000 nursing gowns, 12,000 cases of disinfecting wipes, 11,000 gallons of hand sanitizer, and more.

“Getting our children back into the classroom is vital for the continued growth of our state,” McMaster said in a release. “Securing this PPE will ensure that each school has the resources needed to succeed in providing a safe environment for both students and faculty.”

SC lawmakers call for increased testing

South Carolina legislators issued recommendations Wednesday that call for increased testing capacity and places more responsibility on the state for providing safety supplies for health providers and ensuring testing goals are adequate.

“It’s one thing for us to set benchmarks and appropriate funds … but at the end of the day, there has to be leadership and one person responsible to come back to us and say, ‘We fell short of the goal and this is why,’” subcommittee chairman Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, said.

The lawmakers also recommend that the Department of Health and Environmental Control take on the role of making sure labs statewide meet the new testing goal of 10% of South Carolina residents every month.

State epidemiologist must speak out, lawmakers say

The state’s top epidemiologist, who has been leading much of the coronavirus response in South Carolina, must be more forceful in speaking out, lawmakers say.

Their directive comes after The State newspaper reported on internal emails showing that Dr. Linda Bell said the governor’s office was “somewhat manipulative” in meetings about the coronavirus.

Bell said her decision to not speak out more from “a policy perspective is one of the reasons that South Carolina is now among the states with the worst outlook.”

At least two legislators said they would support Bell if she testifies before the House or Senate, The State reported.

Country music festival postponed

Carolina Country Music Fest, which is the largest tourist event in Myrtle Beach, will not take place this year.

The event, originally scheduled for June, was postponed until September because of the coronavirus pandemic. But organizers said this week the festival is postponed until June 2021, with performers including Luke Combs, Eric Church, Darius Rucker and Jake Owen.

The festival began in 2015 and attracts more than 30,000 people, The Myrtle Beach Sun News reported.

This story was originally published August 12, 2020 at 7:21 AM.