Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Oct. 28

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

Cases pass 165,000

At least 165,477 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina, and 3,634 have died, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Wednesday reported 636 new COVID-19 cases, down from 755 the day before.

Greenville County had the most newly reported cases, with 90 on Wednesday. Richland County followed with 54.

Thirty-two coronavirus-related deaths were reported Wednesday.

The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests was 15.5% as of Wednesday. Health officials have said that number should be 5% or lower.

On Wednesday, 810 people in South Carolina were hospitalized with coronavirus-related symptoms, up from 746 the day before.

How many COVID-19 vaccines will there be for SC?

Whenever an effective coronavirus vaccine becomes available, health experts agree it will be scarce at first, and should be distributed to those deemed to need it most. So how many vaccines will be available in South Carolina, and in each county?

The Vaccine Allocation Planner for COVID-19, a new tool designed by epidemiologists and data scientists at Harvard University, can help answer those questions and many others.

According to the planner, if 10 million vaccines are produced, South Carolina would receive around 153,000. If the vaccine takes two doses to work, as some experts predict, then there would be 76,518 courses available for the 800,709 people deemed high-priority under phase one in the state.

The number of vaccines shipped to each county will be proportional to population, with Greenville, Richland, Charleston, Horry and Spartanburg counties receiving the most — but less than 10% of qualifying residents in any county would be able to get vaccinated, according to those figures.

Richland teachers angered by remote work refusal

Richland 2 teachers angered by the district’s decision to resume some in-person classes voiced their concerns at a public meeting Tuesday.

Some who spoke at the meeting have pre-existing health conditions, and specifically requested to continue teaching virtually for their own safety, but saw their requests denied.

Melissa Gilbert, a teacher at Kelly Mill Med Pro Middle, says her condition makes her particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, and feels she’s being forced to choose between her job and her life. She said she has filed for medical leave.

“If my request for leave is denied I will have no choice but to resign,” Gilbert said.

Myrtle Beach to extend mask mandate

Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune said during Tuesday’s council meeting that she will extend the city’s mask mandate for another month.

The mandate, which was set to expire on Oct. 30, is part of the city’s civil emergency declaration in response to COVID-19. By extending the emergency declaration, Bethune extends the mask mandate.

After another month, Bethune will again decide whether to keep the declaration active, or let it expire.

Bethune’s announcement comes as coronavirus cases are rising in Horry County, The Sun News reported. As of Monday, the county had seen over 11,000 cases since the pandemic began, and 204 deaths.

Ballots can’t be thrown out for mismatched signatures, judge rules

South Carolina counties have been ordered by a federal judge to stop rejecting absentee ballots with signatures that don’t appear to match signatures on file.

The order, from U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel, states that counties must seek permission from the court if they want to continue using signature matching techniques. Also, if a signature is determined not to match, they must give the voter an opportunity to fix any perceived mismatch.

This doesn’t impact the witness signature requirement for absentee ballots. Currently, all absentee ballots must still be signed by a witness before being submitted.

More people are voting via mail-in ballots this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gergel’s order comes a day after the state Election Commission gave similar orders, after learning several counties were planning on using the signature matching technique to throw out otherwise correct ballots.

SC schools see 184 new cases

State health officials report there have been 184 new COVID-19 cases in South Carolina K-12 schools since Friday, when the Department of Health and Environmental Control last shared school data.

The total number of cases since the school year began is now 1,956, with 1,364 students cases, and 592 employee cases.

This story was originally published October 28, 2020 at 6:41 AM.