Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Sept. 24

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

Cases pass 139,000

At least 139,021 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina, and 3,097 have died, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Thursday reported 664 new cases of the virus, up from 613 the day before.

Sixteen deaths were reported Thursday.

The DHEC on Thursday reported a positive test rate of 9.5%. The rolling seven-day average is 11%, the lowest rate since early June. Health officials have said that number should be 5% or lower to slow the spread of the virus.

Witness signature now required for absentee ballots

A federal judge’s decision, intended to make voting by absentee ballot in South Carolina easier, has been overturned by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, The State reported.

U.S. Judge Michelle Childs’ ruling, made last week, prevented the state Election Commission from requiring absentee voters to get a witness signature.

Now that the decision has been overturned, any South Carolinians planning to vote by absentee ballot must have a witness sign the envelope.

In explaining her ruling, Childs pointed out that there is no evidence of significant voter fraud having occurred in the state in the last 40 years.

Republican officials were behind the push to overturn Childs’ decision and hailed the 4th Circuit Court’s decision as a victory for states’ rights, saying it will ensure a fair, secure election.

Democrats maintain that a witness signature requirement simply makes voting absentee more difficult, while adding no benefit to the democratic process.

“Our goal has been to afford people during a pandemic the opportunity to cast a vote without risking his/her life,” State Democratic Party Chair Trav Robertson said in a statement. “We believe that the witness signature requirement for South Carolina absentee ballots is a wholly unnecessary burden on people trying to vote safely.”

Domestic violence spiked during Lexington County shutdown

Domestic violence surged in Lexington County during COVID-19 lockdown, officials say.

Over the first eight months of the year, instances of domestic violence increased 38% compared with the same period in 2019, Deputy Solicitor Al Eargle told the Lexington County Council. At the same time, 28% fewer cases were taken care of by the court system, partially because courts were shut earlier during the pandemic.

Eargle’s comments are consistent with what many agencies that handle domestic abuse cases had been reporting. With lockdowns in effect, many found themselves trapped with their abusers, less able to leave or otherwise avoid their violence.

SC senator tests positive for COVID-19

State Sen. Katrina Shealy has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Lexington County Republican announced Thursday.

Shealy and her husband are both “experiencing the not so pleasant (effects) of the illness,” she wrote on her Senate Facebook page, asking the public for their prayers.

The senator was present for legislative sessions last Tuesday and Wednesday but has been in quarantine at home since then, she told The State.

Nearly $700 million for unemployment fund, small business

State legislators reached an agreement Wednesday on how to allocate the remaining CARES Act funding — $693 million. It will be divided up among the unemployment insurance trust fund, minority-owned businesses, small businesses and nonprofit organizations.

“It’s not everything that the House wants, but it’s a fair resolution,” said state Rep. Murrell Smith, a Sumter Republican and the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. “This is very important to the citizens of the state of South Carolina. And to our local governments and our state agencies that they have the ability to apply for these remaining dollars.”

The bulk of the funds, $420 million, is going to the unemployment insurance trust fund. That fund covered benefits for many South Carolinians who were laid off or furloughed during the pandemic.

Another $25 million is being set aside for nonprofits. Those that didn’t receive other federal money, such as Paycheck Protection Program funds, are the highest priority.

Small businesses and minority-owned businesses will get $40 million, to provide grants of up to $25,000.

Another $115 million will support state agencies, local governments, colleges and universities.

And finally, $73 million will go to the Department of Health and Environmental Control and $20 million to the Medical University of South Carolina to pay for COVID-19 testing and monitoring.

USC officials: Sick students aren’t getting tested

Active coronavirus cases at the University of South Carolina have been falling rapidly in recent weeks, as has the percentage of positive tests, but officials worry there are sick students who aren’t getting tested.

Fewer tests being administered. Between last Friday and Monday this week, the university tested 651 students, compared with 1,128 last Tuesday through Thursday.

“Our cases are coming down, but I think you also probably noticed we’re doing less testing,” USC spokesman Larry Thomas said. “I think one thing to point out on this issue is we have plenty of availability. What we’re seeing is we don’t have the demand as much as we did at one point.”

Thomas said he does believe overall trends in USC’s data can be trusted and coronavirus activity is on the decline. But there are likely infected students going untested and uncounted.

One reason for this may be that students think testing capacity is limited, Thomas said. The university struggled with providing enough tests to meet demand earlier this month, and students may think the issue persists.

Thomas pointed to “test fatigue” as another possible contributor. Also, many students with mild symptoms may be staying at home or in their dorms until they recover, he said.

Parents of special-needs students call for in-person classes

Online learning during the pandemic has been especially difficult for special education students, and many South Carolina parents are calling for an in-person classes option, The State reported.

“There are a lot of students being left behind,” said David Taylor, who has a 15-year-old daughter with special needs. “We’re not trying to make a case for reopening classes” for everyone.

“There has to be some accommodation. There has to be some way to socially distance,” former school teacher Janie Neeley said. Her 4-year-old son with Down syndrome has been struggling, and so has Neeley. “It should be phased in. Special needs students should be able to go back first.”

State Superintendent Molly Spearman sent a letter to districts earlier this month, imploring them to resume face-to-face classes for special education students and many others who stand to lose the most by missing out on in-person instruction. But that letter was a request, not a demand.

This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 6:50 AM.