Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Oct. 23

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

Cases pass 161,000

At least 161,235 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina, and 3,545 have died, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Friday reported 784 new COVID-19 cases, down from 971 the day before.

Eighteen coronavirus-related deaths were reported Friday.

The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests was 12.3% as of Friday. Health officials have said that number should be 5% or lower.

On Friday, 718 patients in South Carolina hospitals had COVID-19, including 191 in intensive care and 96 on ventilators.

141 new cases in K-12 schools

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control on Friday reported 141 new cases of coronavirus in South Carolina k-12 schools, marking two consecutive weeks of triple digit increases.

DHEC reports school coronavirus data twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Last Friday, 200 new cases were confirmed, followed by 148 cases on Tuesday.

The growing case counts come as more schools across the state move to reopen classrooms and return to more traditional face-to-face learning, The State reported.

There have been 1,772 positive COVID-19 tests in SC schools since the semester began, with students making up 1,242, and staff accounting for 530.

Confusion as Horry County drops mask rules

Horry County has decided to allow its mask ordinance to expire Oct. 30, despite backlash from city leaders, worried that without a county-wide rule will, confusion will reign regarding when and where masks are required.

Within the many boundaries and municipalities in Horry County, rules regarding masks change from one place to the next.

Some say the impending chaos could be avoided if Gov. Henry McMaster would implement a statewide mandate — something he has consistently refused to do since the early days of the pandemic.

“No one rule fits every situation,” McMaster said at a news conference in Myrtle Beach. Mask rules “need to be tailored to the community. They need to respond to the wishes of the citizens, in light of the data (and) what we know about the spread of this highly dangerous, too many times fatal virus.”

5 dead, 20 infected a month after shag gathering

A month has passed since the Shaggin’ On Main dance festival in North Myrtle Beach, and at least 20 attendees have tested positive for COVID-19 and 5 have died in that time, The Sun News reports.

COVID-19 was identified as the cause in three of the deaths, while an exact culprit hasn’t been named for the other two.

The shag dance festival coincided with a spike in coronavirus activity in Horry County, but through contact tracing efforts, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control believes the event is not responsible.

However, while DHEC linked less than five COVID-19 cases to the shag festival, The Sun News’ own reporting identified nearly 24 people who tested positive after attending -- though some might have been excluded from DHEC’s count if they tested positive in North Carolina, where many attendees were visiting from.

11 deaths in these three counties

Thursday, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 40 deaths from COVID-19, the highest single-day death toll in six weeks. Over a quarter of those deaths occurred in just three counties.

Four died in York County, four died in Lancaster County, and three more in Chester County, according to health officials. Previously, the most deaths reported in one day across those counties was eight.

Shag ‘master’ dies due to COVID-19

Jeptha “Jeppy” McDowell, 76, a shag dancing legend in North Myrtle Beach, has died from COVID-19.

McDowell is the third death in the dancing community, coming amid a spike in coronavirus cases that may be connected to an unofficial shag dancing competition held in late September, The Sun News reported.

McDowell was a shag dancing instructor at Fat Harold’s Beach Club for 40 years, a beloved fixture in the community and considered a “shagging icon,” friend Ronnie Gregory said.

“There’s people who have different callings in life for different things,” Gregory said. “This guy had rhythm and blues in his soul. You could tell it just like you tell people who have country music in their soul. The Beach and the shag with his calling. It was obvious the way he lived his life.”

USC cancels spring break to limit COVID-19 spread

The University of South Carolina announced it is canceling spring break to minimize the spread of COVID-19, and will instead grant students four “wellness days” over the course of the semester.

“We have all had to adapt during the pandemic, but the dedication of our faculty and students to our core mission of teaching and learning remains strong,” USC Provost William Tate said in a news release. “These changes will ensure we can offer students the rigorous, engaged education they have come to expect while further mitigating the threat COVID-19 continues to pose to communities around the globe.”

USC isn’t the first major university to nix traditional spring break due to the pandemic. Florida State, Ohio State, Baylor, Iowa State and several others have taken it off the calendar, as well.

McMaster urges COVID-19 compliance, won’t reinstate rules

Gov. Henry McMaster is urging South Carolina residents to follow coronavirus safety recommendations but said he will not reinstate any restrictions that were recently lifted for bars and restaurants, even though crowds have flooded such businesses in the absence of those rules.

“It’s not a question of more restrictions, it’s just a question of people following those that they know exist now and following the rules that have been — or the recommendations — that have been broadcast, discussed, explained ad infinitum since March,” McMaster said Wednesday.

McMaster said it would be too great of an economic burden to reimpose the restrictions.

“We must be open for business,” he said. “There’s a way to navigate this virus, but we must be open for business. South Carolina has never closed. We slowed down, but we have not stopped.”

This story was originally published October 23, 2020 at 6:49 AM.