COVID-19 vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on March 16
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases surpass 455,000
At least 455,495 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 7,851 have died since the pandemic began last March, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Tuesday reported 383 new COVID-19 cases, up from 310 reported the day before.
Two coronavirus-related deaths were reported, along with one “probable” death.
At least 589 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus in the state as of Tuesday with 135 COVID-19 patients recovering in the ICU, state data shows.
As of Tuesday, 4.8% of COVID-19 tests were reported positive, the state health department said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5% or lower means there is low level of community spread.
More than 1.4 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine had been administered in South Carolina as of Tuesday, and more than 518,000 residents have “completed vaccination,” state data shows.
Columbia extends mask mandate through May
The Columbia City Council voted Tuesday to extend the city’s face mask mandate into May, according to The State.
The extension will last 60 days. District 4 Councilman Daniel Rickenmann proposed shortening the mask extension to 30 days; however, the amendment didn’t receive support from fellow council members.
“If we look at the data, we’ve had tremendous drop (in cases),” he said Tuesday. “We’re not out of there yet. We still need to get some vaccinations and so forth. But I would prefer that we look at it in 30-day increments rather than 60-day increments.”
Under the citywide ordinance, face masks covering the nose and mouth “shall be required in all public places within the city,” including commercial establishments and in situations where it may be difficult to remain socially distanced.
Rent assistance could come too late for some tenants
Housing advocates say they are concerned that rental assistance from the federal government might not be distributed to South Carolina tenants before a nationwide eviction moratorium is set to expire March 31.
When Congress approved a second round of COVID-19 stimulus money at the end of December, housing advocates applauded it as an important step in getting people back on their feet.
The $245 million in rental assistance given to South Carolina as part of the second stimulus package last fall is still in limbo, The State reported. The S.C. House passed a bill earlier this month to authorize distributing the funds, and a Senate finance committee will review it next.
South Carolina will receive millions of additional funds to help renters as part of the America Rescue Plan passed by Congress this month. It’s not clear when the money will be distributed.
Florence resident Tamika Star told The State she hopes the moratorium on evictions will be extended.
“I really need this extra time to be able to come up with this payment,” she said. “It’s just like being given a chance to work things out. I feel like the little people are not really given that chance.”
Tourism season underway in Hilton Head
Bumper-to-bumper traffic and packed beaches marked the unofficial start of tourism season in Hilton Head, The Island Packet reported.
The town saw more than 100,000 vehicles pass over the Hilton Head bridges on Saturday and Sunday, and hungry patrons kept local shops and businesses busy.
Hotels also saw an influx of guests. Data from the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce show that bookings for the first half of 2021 are up 4% compared to this time last year when the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to The Island Packet.
“For many years, Hilton Head has been known for its beauty, nature, golf and beach,” Outside Hilton Head owner Mike Overton told the newspaper in February. “But people are also looking at it as a safe place. I think this year is going to be a good year.”
Push to vaccinate farm workers begins
Peach grower Titan Farms has teamed up with Carolina Health Centers to vaccinate 1,000 full-time and temporary farm workers against COVID-19, The Island Packet reported.
The push comes less than a week after eligibility was extended to farm workers under the state’s vaccination plan, which entered Phase 1b on March 8.
Growers in the region received their first dose of the vaccine on Saturday and will receive their second April 10.
“We just told [the workers], for us to return to as much a normal life as we could, we believed that the vaccine was important, and they needed to make up their own mind,” Titan Farms owner Chalmers Carr told The Island Packet.
This story was originally published March 16, 2021 at 7:32 AM.