COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on May 20

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

Case count surpasses 489,000

At least 489,653 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 8,511 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 184 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, up from 181 reported the day before.

One coronavirus-related death was also reported.

At least 334 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Thursday, and 94 patients were in intensive care units.

As of Thursday, 3% of COVID-19 tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower indicates a low risk of community spread.

More than 1.5 million South Carolina residents, or 35%, have completed vaccination against COVID-19, and more than 1.8 million, or 43%, have received at least one dose, as of Tuesday.

Why are some SC residents refusing vaccination?

A little over one-third of South Carolinians 12 years and older have completed COVID-19 vaccination, but many residents are choosing to pass, The State reported.

Health officials say vaccine hesitancy is becoming a bigger problem in the effort to end the pandemic, so understanding the reasons why people are opting not to do so may be critical moving forward.

“I very seldom get sick on anything, so why do I want to take a chance on it?” 64-year-old Marcus Polk said.

The construction site safety engineer, who lives in Winnsboro, doesn’t trust the vaccines because he believes they were too rushed. And in rare instances, vaccinated individuals still catch the coronavirus, so it doesn’t seem worth it to him.

“Even now with (case) numbers going down, I still don’t plan on getting it,” Polk said.

Experts say vaccine hesitant Americans are not a monolith -- their reasons for avoiding vaccination often differ, and they are people from a wider variety of demographic groups than many might assume.

Upset parents make edits to students’ liability forms

South Carolina students must sign a waiver if they want to go mask-free at school and some parents are upset about it, going so far as to digitally alter the state health department’s consent form.

Education officials say there have been reports of parents submitting edited versions of the form, scribbling out the portions they don’t like and using software to remove others, The State reported. The act is a possible violation of state law.

The waiver is required for parents of students who want their child go maskless at schools where mask rules are still in place.

“The form, without any edits, should be sent to the school,” DHEC spokeswoman Cristi Moore said in a statement. “Any modified forms are invalid, and schools should not accept them.”

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said it has been alerted to the alleged incidents and is investigating.

As COVID numbers fall, Columbia preps for big late night crowds

Crowds are growing and staying out later in Columbia, as more people get vaccinated and COVID-19 infections continue to fall.

“People want to party,” Matt Kennell, CEO of City Center Partnership told The State. “Now that people are getting vaccinated and masking laws have gotten more lax, we are seeing a tremendous growth in the late night crowds downtown.”

The organization’s yellow shirt squadron, named for their hard-to-miss uniforms, will be out later, too, on the weekends. Crews help keep downtown Columbia clean, and communicate and cooperate with public safety agencies.

“It used to be that only The Whig was open until really late. But now the 1600 block is really hopping, the Market on Main is really hopping, Cantina 76 is hopping,” Kennell said. “So, after listening to some of our businesses, we extended the Yellow Shirt hours until 1 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”

Yellow shirts are out to 11:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday.

McMaster honors Rock Hill vaccination clinic

A COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Rock Hill was honored by Gov. Henry McMaster for “its efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19” on Wednesday, the Rock Hill Herald reported.

The Rock Hill-Piedmont clinic has administered more than 50,000 doses of the vaccine since opening in mid-January, over one-third of all doses given in York County so far.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control also recognized the clinic as a “community hero.”

“(The clinic) is an incredible example of how community-driven partnerships are absolutely necessary to ... a statewide vaccination plan during an unprecedented pandemic,” DHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer said in a statement. “DHEC can’t beat COVID-19 alone, and we couldn’t be prouder of everything the Rock Hill-Piedmont Medical Vaccination Clinic is doing.”

This story was originally published May 20, 2021 at 7:07 AM.