Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on June 12
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases top 16,000
At least 17,170 people in South Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 593 have died, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 770 new coronavirus cases Friday, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic began in the state, shattering the previous high of 687 set Thursday.
More than 7.5 million cases of the virus and 423,000 deaths have been reported worldwide as of Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the United States, more than 2 million positive cases and 114,000 deaths have been reported.
Clemson athletes test positive
Clemson University tested 169 athletes and athletic staff members for coronavirus, and three had positive results, The State reported, two football players and a member of the men’s basketball team.
Tests were done on June 8, with summer workouts underway as the university readies for the return of sports.
Governor extends state of emergency
Gov. Henry McMaster extended South Carolina’s state of emergency Friday as coronavirus cases continue to climb in the state.
Extending the state of emergency means South Carolina will still be able to get federal emergency funding to help pay for the pandemic response, The State reports.
Horry Co. gets $1.5 million
A federal agency is giving $1.5 million to Horry County to help with shelters and hotel vouchers for homeless people in the coastal county during the coronavirus pandemic, The Sun News reports.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development plans to spend almost $3 billion for local governments to help homeless people and families during the pandemic. Almost $24 million is going to local governments in South Carolina, according to a news release from HUD.
State public health officials recently called the Myrtle Beach area a “hot spot” as case numbers continue to increase, according to The Sun News. “The funding can be allocated to emergency shelters, hotel and motel vouchers for homeless families, essential services like childcare and education and homelessness prevention,” The Sun News reports.
Bowling alleys can reopen
The governor Friday continued to allow more businesses to open and get back to normal. He said bowling alleys can now reopen, The State reports.
Officials also lifted restrictions on occupancy for retailers. Retail stores were limited to allowing 20% occupancy or five people in the business for every 1,000 square feet, whichever was less.
Maskless in Myrtle Beach
Staff at The Sun News spent five hours in various locations around Horry County to answer the question, how many people are wearing masks? Not many, it turns out.
Final results of their count found fewer than 20% of people were covering up their mouth and nose, and in popular tourist areas the number was even lower.
As the state reopens, health officials have cautioned South Carolinians to continue social distancing and wearing masks to prevent spreading the coronavirus.
Positive tests increasing
Almost one in seven South Carolina residents tested for coronavirus in the last day had positive tests, the State Department of Health and Environmental Control said Thursday.
“We and other public health officials are concerned about this recent upturn of cases in South Carolina,” DHEC’s Director of Public Health Joan Duwve said, and there are indications the virus is spreading in the state faster than ever.
“The percent positivity rates over the past week or so have been high,” Duwve said. “What that says to us is we’re seeing a real increase in disease activity.”
The number of COVID-19 tests that have come back positive has jumped above 13% in recent days. That’s higher than the average of 9% to 11% in March and April.
New unemployment claims increase
Nearly 23,000 people filed initial unemployment claims in South Carolina last week, an increase of more than 3,500 reported the week before.
The uptick breaks a seven-week stretch of declining numbers of initial applications for jobless benefits, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce said Thursday.
More than 582,000 people in the state have filed initial claims in the past 12 weeks, according to the agency, The State reported.
Golf courses ease restrictions
Golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area have loosened some restrictions put in place as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19.
In some cases, courses have gone back to having two players in a cart, The Sun News reports. Rules had previously shifted to have only one player per cart to allow for social distancing.
Many courses across South Carolina eased cart restrictions when the governor started to ease rules for restaurants, bars and other businesses, Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association Executive Director Tracy Conner told The Sun News.
Some precautions remain, however, including cart sanitizing and shallow cups.
This story was originally published June 12, 2020 at 7:23 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on June 12."