Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Jan. 9
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Second day of more than 4,500 cases
At least 320,105 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina since March, and 5,267 have died, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Saturday reported 4,576 new COVID-19 cases, the second highest daily count, only surpassed by the previous day’s 4,986 new cases.
Fifty-two new deaths were reported Saturday.
On Saturday, 30.4% of COVID-19 tests in the state were positive. Health officials have said the number should be closer to 5%.
Saturday, 2,383 people in South Carolina were hospitalized with the coronavirus, the second time in five days hospitalizations haven’t climbed to new, record-setting levels.
Three SC cities among worst COVID hotspots in the nation
Three communities in South Carolina are among the cities hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic in the entire country, according to a new report from the White House COVID-19 Task Force, The State reported.
Greenville saw the most COVID-19 infections of any mid-size city in the US — 7,242 — during a seven day span from Dec. 31 to Jan. 6.
Spartanburg ranked 9th out of the 10 worst hit mid-size cities, contributing 2,155 new coronavirus cases during the seven day period.
Of the smaller cities — those with populations between 50,000 to 250,000 — Florence placed 5th with 1,669 new cases.
COVID cases slowing in schools, DHEC data says, but some districts say otherwise
Data from the state health department shows that coronavirus cases are falling among students and staff at K-12 schools, but somedistrictshave their own data that disagrees, the Rock Hill Herald reported.
Friday, 58 new cases were reported in schools statewide.
However, Chester County schools report nearly three times that number, by their count, and Rock Hill schools saw more than 130 cases this week.
For a more in-depth breakdown, read the full story here.
Elderly hospital patients to get COVID vaccine
Hospitals should begin offering the coronavirus vaccine to inpatients 65 and older who don’t have COVID-19, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control said in a statement Friday, The State reported.
The announcement comes a day after executives of several major South Carolina hospitals asked DHEC to allow them to vaccinate certain groups who are not eligible under the first phase of the vaccine rollout.
By broadening eligibility, DHEC hopes to speed up vaccine distribution, which has been criticized as sluggish by Gov. Henry McMaster and others.
“It is within our state’s best interest to allow hospitals to begin vaccinating their admitted patients who are aged 65 years and older,” said Brannon Traxler, DHEC’s interim health director. “By moving up these patients who are currently admitted in our hospitals we are ensuring that the most vulnerable among us are being vaccinated as quickly as possible.”
$25 million COVID relief program to help pay for housing
Help is coming for South Carolinians struggling to pay for housing due to economic strain caused by the the coronavirus pandemic, The State reported.
A $25 million relief program is launching next month that will provide mortgage or rental assistance to eligible applicants making 80% or less of the median income, for up to six months.
The program is being handled by SC Housing, the state’s finance and development agency.
Residents will be able to apply starting early February, the same time that the nationwide eviction moratorium is coming to an end.
More specifics on eligibility requirements will be announced as launch day nears, but residents can sign up on SC Housing’s website to be emailed “as soon as the application is open,” an agency spokesman said.
This story was originally published January 9, 2021 at 7:20 AM.