Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Dec. 14
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases surpass 236,000
At least 236,785 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 4,398 have died, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Monday reported 2,364 new COVID-19 cases, down from 2,924 reported the day before.
Eleven additional deaths were reported Monday.
As of Monday, 1,276 people in South Carolina were hospitalized with the coronavirus.
The percentage of positive tests was 20.3% on Monday, down from 21.3% Sunday. Health officials have said the number should be closer to 5% to slow the spread of the virus.
Schools to receive $84 million in COVID-19 relief
South Carolina K-12 schools will receive $84 million in coronavirus relief money, with distribution of the funds starting this week, the state Department of Education announced Monday.
Schools can’t spend the federal relief dollars however they want. Investing in things like protective equipment, hiring school nurses, or hiring employees to help struggling students are examples of approved expenditures.
“Our teachers, nurses, and school staff have gone above and beyond to support students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” S.C. Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said in a press release. “These funds are to be used to maintain and support their efforts to welcome additional students back safely for face-to-face instruction and meet the needs of those that are struggling both online and in the classroom.”
Funds will be split among school districts statewide based on student population.
Here’s how much Lexington and Richland county school districts will be granted:
- Richland 1: $2,709,405
- Richland 2: $2,904,700
Lexington 1: $2,572,728
Lexington 2: $1,040,790
Lexington 3: $239,202
Lexington 4: $413,684
Lexington-Richland 5: $1,602,281
Horry Co. healthcare workers get vaccinated
The Conway Medical Center received 975 doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine on Monday.
The first five to be injected were health care workers. Over 100 workers at the facility had registered to be vaccinated by Monday afternoon. Hospital officials say they expect enough doses will be available for all employees, but workers won’t be required to get vaccinated.
Masks must still be worn at the hospital, regardless of whether an individual has been vaccinated, an official said.
“It’s an obligation for us to do it,” Dr. Stephen Brady, who works in the cardiology department, said, urging others to get the vaccine as well once it becomes more widely available. “If you care about your parents, your grandparents, your friends or anybody, you should feel obligated to get the vaccine.”
SC receives its first COVID-19 vaccine doses
South Carolina’s first shipment of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine arrived Monday, with the first doses slated for health care workers, The State reported.
Officials expect to have 43,000 doses by Wednesday and between 200,000 and 300,000 before the end of the year. Vaccines will be distributed to 56 sites across the state this week.
“To reach our collective goal and stop the spread of COVID-19, we must attend to our frontline healthcare workers first,” DHEC Interim Public Health Director Brannon Traxler said in a statement. “Ensuring those responsible for treating our COVID-19 patients are the first to be vaccinated is one way of protecting our frontline healthcare workers so that they can continue to protect all of us.”
Upstate surge continues
Coronavirus cases in the Upstate region continued to outpace the rest of the state over the weekend.
Greenville again led all counties with 491 COVID-19 cases Sunday, followed by Spartanburg County with 307.
On Saturday, Greenville County also reported the most new cases, with 510, followed by Spartanburg with 217. Pickens County had 183 and Anderson County had 85.
Over the past four weeks, Greenville County, the state’s most populous county, has reported more than twice as many cases as any other in South Carolina, The State reported Saturday.
Cases in the Midlands have also surged but have remained below the Upstate’s numbers.
This story was originally published December 14, 2020 at 7:54 AM.
