COVID-19 vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Feb. 26

We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.

Total cases surpass 441,000

At least 441,697 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 7,528 have died since March, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Friday reported 1,086 new COVID-19 cases, up from 921 reported the day before.

Twenty-seven additional deaths were reported Friday.

At least 939 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus in South Carolina as of Thursday — marking the lowest total reported since late November and the fourth day in a row hospitalizations have decreased.

As of Friday, 5.1% of COVID-19 tests were positive. Health officials have said the goal is 5% or lower to control the spread of the virus.

McMaster lifts ‘last call’ rule on alcohol sales

Gov. Henry McMaster has lifted a months-long order requiring bars and restaurants to stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m.

The restriction, which will end Monday, was implemented in July to help slow coronavirus spread, particularly among younger people.

McMaster also ended another rule barring events from having more than 250 people without special approval from the Department of Commerce.

“With the spread of the virus consistently decreasing across the country and more of the most vulnerable South Carolinians being vaccinated every day, I believe these targeted and limited safety measures are no longer necessary,” McMaster said. “The virus is still among us and we all must continue to make responsible decisions to take care of ourselves and our loved ones, but those decisions are for South Carolinians to make.”

House votes to limit governor’s emergency powers

The House voted 109-3 in favor of a bill aimed at reeling in the governor’s emergency powers, The State reported.

Through the course of the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Henry McMaster has issued emergency orders that have forced schools to close and reopen, placed rules on bars and restaurants, and more -- and he has been able to do so largely independent of the House or Senate.

“Right now, there are no checks and balances over the governor’s ability to continually enact states of emergency,” said House Judiciary Committee chairman Chris Murphy, R-Dorchester. “We heard from our constituents that it was very important that the body, the General Assembly that represents the people, have the ability to intervene and have some oversight over the governor’s ability to continually enact 15-day states of emergency.”

Under the new legislation, members of the House would be able to review emergency orders from the governor’s office and try to amend, approve or reject them.

‘We are over the peak,’ Beaufort County health experts say

After record-setting infections and hospitalizations in January, coronavirus activity has been steadily falling in South Carolina, and Beaufort County medical experts are feeling optimistic about the weeks and months ahead for the region.

The Lowcountry is still classified as a “sustained hotspot,” however, though COVID-19 metrics stand roughly where they did in November, before the surge caused by the holiday season.

“We are over the peak from the Christmas season, but we haven’t come back down to baseline,” said Dr. Stephen Larson, medical director for Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s emergency center.

Still, if trends continue, the county can expect the spring to be even better, experts said.

What’s contributing to the declining spread?

Bad weather in recent weeks has likely resulted in fewer people getting together in groups to socialize. There’s less travel this time of year as well.

Another factor may be having an impact, too, according to Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist. A significant number of people have been infected at this point, developed some degree of immunity, making it more difficult for the virus to find new people to infect.

Columbia St. Pat’s celebration canceled for second year

St. Pat’s in Five Points has been canceled for another year due to the pandemic, The State reported.

The 40-year-old tradition that celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in March is one of the largest events in Columbia, and event organizers looked at downsizing it for 2021 in hopes it could be held safely. But the plan was scrapped.

“Obviously, we weren’t going to be able to do a festival like we normally would have,” Cook said. “We tried to piece together some other options where we possibly do a limited concert, something like that. We just couldn’t make it work. Frankly, all that stuff costs money, and we’ve just been battered through this whole (pandemic), especially not having two St. Patrick’s Days in a row.”

This story was originally published February 26, 2021 at 7:12 AM.