Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Jan. 7

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

Percentage of positive tests hits record high

At least 310,246 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina since March, and 5,189 have died, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Thursday reported 3,935 new COVID-19 cases, down from 4,037 reported the day before.

Fifty-one new deaths were reported Thursday.

As of Thursday, 34.2% of COVID-19 tests in the state were positive, the highest percentage positive reported in the state. Health officials have said the number should be closer to 5%.

A record 2,425 people in South Carolina were hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Thursday, the fifth day in a row hospitalizations have hit a record high.

Red tape is slowing vaccine rollout, hospitals say

Vaccine rollout is moving too slowly, the leaders of several South Carolina hospitals told state Department of Health and Environmental Control officials during the state agency’s monthly board meeting. But they have an idea how to speed things up.

Executives with Prisma Health, the Medical University of South Carolina, Tidelands Health and Lexington Medical are asking DHEC to allow them to inoculate people who want the COVID-19 vaccine but are not eligible under the current phase of distribution, The State reported.

Some individuals who are already eligible aren’t taking advantage of the opportunity, said Patrick Cawley, vice president for health affairs at MUSC.

Under DHEC’s current plans, people in the second-highest vaccination category won’t be getting shots until later this winter. Hospitals leaders said they could start helping those people, particularly the elderly, sooner.

“The last thing I want to do is have vaccines building up at MUSC,’’ Cawley told the board. “If all of a sudden I can’t get people to (sign) up, we should move on to the next group. You let hospitals and health systems make that decision, I think you will fulfill the original principle of getting more shots done quickly.’’

McMaster will ask lawmakers for $123 million to support small businesses

Gov. Henry McMaster plans to ask South Carolina’s legislature this year to spend $123 million on small businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, The State reported.

If approved, the funds would go to the state’s Department of Commerce, which will launch a small business relief grant program. Qualifying businesses must be located in South Carolina, employ 25 or fewer workers, be able to prove COVID had a direct impact on their business, and have been in operation since at least Sept. 13, 2019.

“The governor thinks they’re the lifeblood of the economy,” McMaster’s spokesman Brian Symmes said. “By no fault of their own, small businesses around the country, including right here in South Carolina, are in peril after dedicating sometimes lifetimes worth of work. In some cases, generations of families who have put their blood, sweat and tears into restaurants (and) businesses.”

McMaster has some other big investments in mind, too, including $30 million for expanding broadband internet access.

The governor is also expected to ask lawmakers to set aside $500 million in reserve, for use in case of further economic impacts from the coronavirus.

New COVID variant is spreading, but will it come to SC?

A more contagious variant of the coronavirus has been spreading across the world, and has even been found in Georgia, though so far there’s no sign of it in South Carolina, The State reported.

However, it’s likely to arrive in the Palmetto State eventually, says Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease doctor and assistant professor at the Medical University of South Carolina.

The best way to prevent the new variant from spreading? Follow the advice health officials have been sharing since March.

“With increased transmission, it allows for the potential to change the trajectory of the virus. And by that I mean, with increased transmission that can potentially allow for more cases, more hospitalizations, more fatalities,” Kuppalli said. “And so we have the power to help prevent that by adhering to these public health measures.”

Health workers urged to schedule vaccination, or lose priority status

Health care workers eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine must get vaccinated or schedule an appointment to be vaccinated by Jan. 15, or risk losing their priority spot at the front of the line, The State reported.

“It’s like boarding an airplane,” Gov. Henry McMaster said. “When they call your rows, if you don’t get on the plane, you go to the back of the line.”

Previously, state health officials told people eligible for the first phase of the vaccine roll-out not to reach out to hospitals, and instead wait to be contacted.

The policy reversal announced Wednesday comes as Gov. Henry McMaster has expressed frustration about the roll-out process so far, which he says has been too sluggish.

Carnival cancels fall cruises from SC

Carnival Cruise Line has canceled all fall cruises from South Carolina, The Sun News reported.

This marks the eighth round of cancellations for the company, which also announced it is pausing operations in the U.S. through March 31.

With the coronavirus pandemic still raging, government officials have not granted permission to the cruise line to resume trips.

“We are sorry to disappoint our guests, as we can see from our booking activity that there is clearly a pent-up demand for cruising on Carnival. We appreciate their patience and support as we continue to work on our plans to resume operations in 2021 with a gradual, phased in approach,” Carnival president Christine Duffy said in a statement.

This story was originally published January 7, 2021 at 6:43 AM.