Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Dec. 16
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases surpass 241,000
At least 241,471 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 4,444 have died, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Wednesday reported 2,424 new COVID-19 cases, up from 2,303 cases reported the day before.
Forty-two additional deaths were reported Wednesday.
As of Wednesday, 1,046 people in South Carolina were hospitalized with the coronavirus.
The percentage of positive tests was 20.6% on Wednesday, up from 19.9% the day before. Health officials have said the number should be closer to 5% to slow the spread of the virus.
U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson tests positive for coronavirus
South Carolina U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson has tested positive for the coronavirus, his office announced Wednesday.
The 73-year-old Republican feels “fine,” and isn’t displaying any symptoms, according to the statement from his office.
“I will be taking all necessary precautions, as directed by the House Physician, including quarantining through the Christmas holiday,” Wilson said in a statement.
Wilson was at the Electoral College meeting Monday in Columbia, where he posed for pictures without a mask.
Now-former U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham also tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this year. He lost his seat during the November election.
Senate Democrats call on McMaster to mandate masks statewide
In the midst of an ongoing COVID-19 surge, state Senate Democrats are calling on Gov. Henry McMaster to implement a 60-day statewide mask mandate to reduce the spread of coronavirus, The State reported.
If McMaster doesn’t heed those calls, democratic lawmakers said they would take up the issue again when the Legislature returns in January.
“Nearly 5,000 of our own are dead,” the caucus wrote in a joint release. “We cannot continue to sit back and allow this to happen.”
There have been more than 241,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state since March, and 4,444 deaths.
McMaster has repeatedly called on South Carolinians to wear masks in public, but at the same time remains adamant that it is the responsibility of local governments to enforce such mandates if they see fit —not the state.
“The governor appreciates the ideas and perspectives of the Senate Democratic Caucus as well as the Senate Republican Caucus,” said Brian Symmes, McMaster’s spokeman. “His position on mask mandates, closing businesses and shutting the state down is clear, reasonable and has placed South Carolina’s economy in a better position than virtually any other state in the nation.”
Democrats say it isn’t enough.
“The powers granted to the Governor during this time of emergency allow him to mandate this,” their statement read. “He can, without a doubt, spare vulnerable lives if he chooses to exercise this power.”
Richland Co. sheriff tests positive for COVID
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in quarantine, the sheriff’s department announced Wednesday.
Lott was first tested on Friday after coming in close contact with a family member who later learned they were infected, The State reported. Lott’s first test came back negative, but a second test performed Wednesday had a different result.
“Out of an abundance of caution, Sheriff Lott was tested again today, Wednesday, Dec. 16. The results came back positive for COVID-19,” a department spokesperson said.
Lott has been in quarantine since Dec. 9, as a precaution.
“I feel fine,” Lott told The State. “No symptoms. Getting a lot of paperwork for the end of the year caught up.”
Family sues SC nursing home for relatives’ death
Eartha Wells never left her room at the Loris Rehab and Nursing Center in Horry County, but she still contracted COVID-19 and died — and now her family has filed a lawsuit, blaming the center for Wells’ death.
More specifically, the suit blames facility staff for “failing to institute proper infection control measures through the facility,” Bradley H. Banyas, a lawyer on the case, told The Sun News.
“When you got staff members clearly flaunting CDC guidelines, something clearly needs to be done,” Banyas said.
Officials overseeing the facility did not respond to requests for comment.
Besides Wells, 12 other patients also died at Loris Rehab and Nursing Center from COVID-19, according to state Department of Health and Environmental Control data. There have also been 57 COVID-19 cases, including 28 among staff.
Some students who don’t get tested may be fined, USC says
University of South Carolina students could soon face fines if they don’t get tested for COVID-19 once a month, The State reported.
On first offense, a student would get a formal warning, according to a presentation delivered by Kelly Epting, USC’s associate vice president for finance and budget.
The second missed month would mean a $100 fine, followed by a $250 fine the third month. On the fourth month, the university would move to suspend the student.
USC’s Board of Trustees approved the rules, which apply to anyone who lives on campus, is enrolled in an in-person or hybrid class, or is on a Greek Village meal plan.
SC businesses received $5.8 billion in COVID loans. Who got what?
About 66,000 South Carolina businesses received $5.8 billion from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, The Sun News reported.
The U.S. Small Business Administration previously wouldn’t share granular details regarding the PPP, which ran from April 3 to Aug. 8, but released the data earlier this month after a series of lawsuits from dozens of news outlets.
The new information shows what companies received loans and for how much.
For example, three companies — HKA Enterprisesin Duncan, Human Technologies in Greenville and Thompson Industrial Services in Sumter — were given $10 million loans, the largest available.
Meanwhile, Star & Tile Flooring in Columbia received just $14.
Columbia extends face mask mandate
Columbia City Council voted Tuesday to extend the city’s mask mandate for another two months, The State reported.
Under the mandate, residents must wear masks in public spaces or face a possible $100 fine.
Council members voted unanimously in favor of the extension, which will last 60 days, at which point the council can vote to extend it again or allow it to expire.
First vaccines arrive at Lexington Medical Center
Lexington Medical Center received 3,000 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday and began inoculating staff, The State reported.
The West Columbia hospital is among 15 health care systems in South Carolina to have received shipments so far, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
“The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine is a historic moment for Lexington Medical Center, our community and the world,” Tod Augsburger, president and CEO of Lexington Medical Center, said in a statement. “We’ve been anxiously anticipating this monumental day and hope it signifies a turning point and the beginning of the end of this global pandemic.”
All 43,000 initial vaccine doses should arrive at their South Carolina destinations by Wednesday, DHEC says. After that, more vaccines will ship to the state on a weekly basis — between 200,000 and 300,000 by the end of the year.
Mask mandates made difference in Horry County, data show
Unincorporated areas of Horry County saw coronavirus cases spike significantly after the County Council allowed its mask mandate to expire, The Sun News reported.
The state Department of Health and Environmental Control has announced on three separate occasions that municipalities with mask ordinances see fewer cases of COVID-19.
A Sun News analysis of DHEC data shows six Horry County zip codes saw an average of 31 new cases a day while a mandate was in place and 46 new cases a day after it expired.
These findings run counter to assertions by some County Council members who say a countywide mask mandate is not effective, the Sun News reported.
This story was originally published December 16, 2020 at 7:01 AM.