Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Dec. 1
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases surpass 205,000
At least 205,004 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 4,091 have died, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Tuesday reported 1,297 new COVID-19 cases, up from 1,174 cases reported Monday. State health officials have been reporting more than 1,000 new cases a day for about two weeks.
Thirteen additional deaths were reported Tuesday.
As of Tuesday, 980 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in South Carolina.
The percentage of positive tests was 17.6% as of Tuesday. Health officials have said the number should be closer to 5% to slow spread of the virus.
K-12 coronavirus cases top 4,200
Since the start of the school year, 4,219 students and staff of South Carolina K-12 schools have tested positive for COVID-19, according to data from the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Of those cases, students account for 2,952, and employees make up the other 1,269.
Cases have increased by 322 since last Tuesday.
COVID-19 could cause school staffing shortages, superintendent warns
As coronavirus activity climbs in the Lexington-Richland 5 school district, some officials say they may be heading toward a staffing shortage if they don’t make some changes.
The number of students and staff in quarantine is surging. To prevent a shortage, superintendent Christina Melton asked the school board to transition seventh through 12th grade students to a hybrid learning model consisting of two days of in-person instruction, and three virtual. Currently, students attend school in-person four days a week.
The meeting was adjourned with no decision made, and there’s disagreement among board members over what action to take.
Two weeks ago, the school board voted to resume face-to-face classes, five days a week, by Feb. 1.
SC New Year event will be virtual
The 10th annual Famously Hot New Year celebration hasn’t been canceled, but will instead be held virtually this year, The State reported.
Organizers say famous South Carolinians will be headlining the Columbia event, including Hootie & The Blowfish, A’Ja Wilson, and Nikki Haley.
The event will be streamed on Famously Hot New Year’s Facebook page and Youtube channel from 10:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.
SC doctors to use experimental COVID-19 drug
Across South Carolina, 15 hospitals have been granted approval to begin offering a “groundbreaking” experimental COVID-19 treatment called bamlanivimab.
Tidelands Health announced Monday that it is one of the hospitals selected, The Myrtle Beach Sun News reported. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control has not named the others.
“This new treatment shows tremendous promise in helping high-risk patients with COVID-19 avoid hospitalization,” Dr. Gerald Harmon, Tideland Health’s vice president of medical affairs, said in a statement. “Our team is aggressively fighting COVID-19 with every approved treatment available with the goal of helping our patients recover and have the best outcome.”
Bamlanivimab is designed to stop COVID-19 from spreading throughout a patient’s body. It is intended for those who aren’t yet displaying advanced symptoms of the virus, but whose symptoms could worsen without treatment.
Myrtle Beach extends mask mandate; Hilton Head to consider extension
Face masks will be required in public places in Myrtle Beach through at least the end of the year.
Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Methune extended the city’s civil emergency, which includes a mandate on face coverings to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, The Sun News reported.
Under the rules, face coverings are required in retail stores and places open to the public. Masks are not required on beaches.
Anyone who violates the city’s mask rule could be issued a $100 fine.
In Hilton Head, the town council is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss whether to renew the city’s masks mandate for a third time, the Island Packet reported.
The mandate, which was adopted in June and extended in August and October, requires that masks be worn in commercial areas including bars and restaurants, retail stores, hotel lobbies and more.
The ordinance is set to expire on Dec. 5, but it will be in effect until Feb. 3 if the council agrees to extend it.
Violators could face a $500 fine or 30 days in jail.
Visitors flocked to Myrtle Beach for Thanksgiving
Despite pleas from health officials, visitors flocked to Myrtle Beach during Thanksgiving week in even greater numbers than before the coronavirus pandemic, The Sun News reported.
From Nov. 21-27, 65.2% of vacation rentals in Myrtle Beach were booked, compared to roughly 45% during the same time in 2019, according to the University of South Carolina’s weekly lodging update.
The additional visitors arrived as the coronavirus has been surging in the area. The county hasn’t seen a positive test rate under 10% in several weeks.
This story was originally published December 1, 2020 at 6:55 AM.