Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Sept. 4

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

More than 1,500 new cases reported

At least 121,378 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 2,706 have died, according to state officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Friday reported 1,511 new cases of the virus, the first highest number of cases reported in one day since July 31. This marks a significant spike in cases compared to what’s been seen in recent weeks.

About 18.3% of tests reported Friday were positive, up from 16.5% Thursday. The World Health Organization and state health officials recommend 5% or lower to bring the transmission of COVID-19 under control.

Officials on Friday also reported 32 additional coronavirus-related deaths.

Positive cases in Midlands schools

Several Midlands school districts have reported outbreaks of the coronavirus affecting students and staff, The State reports.

Richland 1 and Richland 2 say multiple campuses have had small outbreaks of five cases or fewer.

A.C. Flora High School, Hand Middle School, and Hopkins Elementary were impacted sites in Richland 1. Catawba Trail Elementary, Muller Road Middle School, and Richland Northeast High School saw infections in Richland 2.

Lexington 1 had fewer than five faculty members catch COVID-19 at Lexington Elementary School. In Lexington 3, fewer than five tested positive at Batesburg-Leesville Middle School.

400 more cases at USC

Active coronavirus cases at the University of South Carolina increased by 426, the school announced Friday, for a total of 1,443 infections since classes began Aug. 20.

This news comes as the school halts its on-demand COVID-19 saliva testing program, which school officials touted as a “game changer,” allowing them to quickly identify and quarantine infected students and to control the spread of the coronavirus on campus. That program has been paused until at least Tuesday due to a key lab technician becoming ill.

The percentage of positive tests dropped from 26% last week to 19% this week, but the total number of tests conducted also declined from 2,336 to 1,917.

DHEC: K-12 students, faculty catching COVID-19

Students and school faculty in K-12 districts across South Carolina have tested positive for COVID-19, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control reports.

The state has begun releasing data about coronavirus cases among K-12 schools, and the first report came out Friday.

Since the school year started, 89 students and 69 school employees have tested positive for the virus, according to the report. Not all those cases of coronavirus were necessarily contracted on school grounds, according to DHEC.

MUSC to participate in vaccine trial

The Medical University of South Carolina has been chosen to take part in a coronavirus vaccine trial, and as many as 1,500 Charleston-area residents will be participating, according to a statement from the university.

MUSC is participating in the phase 3 trial period, which tests the vaccine’s effectiveness among a large population, for an AstraZeneca designed vaccine. The vaccine “has shown promise in battling COVID-19,” the MUSC statement said.

USC running out of space to quarantine students

A health expert at the University of South Carolina warns if coronavirus cases continue to climb at the school like they have in recent weeks, it will soon reach quarantine capacity.

“With the trajectory and the percentage of positive cases, we are getting close to the capacity of our testing, quarantine and isolation rooms,” Dr. Helmut Albrecht, director of infectious disease research at the USC School of Medicine, said. “It’s not sustainable if the uptick continues.”

The university announced Tuesday there were over 1,000 active cases of the virus, almost exclusively among students. There are just over 35,000 students enrolled at USC this fall semester.

DHEC clarifies CDC data

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control is speaking out against misinformation surrounding recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Regarding the roughly 180,000 coronavirus deaths in the U.S., the CDC noted that for 6% of those fatalities, only COVID-19 was listed as the cause of death.

Some have taken that to mean that the total death toll of the coronavirus pandemic is far less than has been reported — but that isn’t the case, DHEC officials said Thursday, joining a host of other agencies and experts seeking to clarify the figure.

“The remaining 94 percent of deaths were among people with other underlying or contributing conditions but COVID-19 was still a factor in the deaths,” the agency said in a statement.

Health experts predict Labor Day COVID-19 surge

“If people don’t take the proper precautions, we’re going to see another massive surge after Labor Day,” Clemson bio-statistician Lior Rennert said. “It’s as simple as that.”

Rennert’s words echo those of state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell, who issued a similar warning in late August. If the effects of Memorial Day and Fourth of July celebrations are any indication, Labor Day may cause a rebound in coronavirus cases.

Michael Sweat, a professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, says the state is trapped in a cycle. There’s a “fatigue factor” that keeps cropping up, he said. People get tired of being vigilant, social distancing and taking precautions to keep COVID-19 under control, and they become increasingly lax.

“That can add up to another resurgence,” Sweat said. “That’s a concern.”

Cops break up five USC student gatherings

The “massive” pool party Columbia officials broke up last weekend was just one of five gatherings of University of South Carolina students that authorities shut down for violating coronavirus orders, The State reported.

Hundreds attended the pool party at The Apartments at Palmetto Compress. The gathering earned nationwide attention, with Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin telling ABC’s “Good Morning America” he was “furious” when he heard the news.

“Our rules are very clear. ... We can enforce the governor’s executive order on spacing and we also have a mask ordinance.”

Police also responded to a 35-person gathering at the Hub, an off-campus complex for USC students. A get-together at a rental property near Five Points was shut down, as was a house party on South Gregg Street. After previously warning tenants of a Heyward Street property, police broke up a party there for the second time.

According to Columbia police, the USC Department of Public Safety was informed that students were involved in all five incidents.

USC halts coronavirus saliva testing

Despite rapidly rising coronavirus case counts among students, University of South Carolina officials have expressed confidence in their ability to contain the virus on campus thanks to on-demand saliva testing — but those efforts have been put on hold.

Citing a staffing shortage, USC said Thursday it is halting its “game changer” testing strategy.

“It’s simply a question of demand outpacing our ability to staff the lab at this point,” USC spokesman Jeff Stensland told The State after a key lab worker became ill.

Stensland said the university aims to resume on-demand saliva testing by Tuesday, but there’s no guaranteed timeline.

School officials were touting the testing program during a town hall the previous day.

When asked what changed in the time between the Wednesday town hall and the Thursday announcement, Stensland said, “This was not anticipated at that time.”

This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 6:59 AM.