Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Aug. 20

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

Nearly 900 new cases reported

At least 108,146 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 2,289 have died, according to state officials.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Thursday reported 896 new cases — the fifth day in a row new cases have been below 1,000.

Officials on Thursday reported 42 additional coronavirus-related deaths, compared to 17 the day before.

DHEC reported Thursday that 15.2% of tests were positive. In July, the state’s positive test rate hovered around 20%. About 8.7% of tests come back positive nationally.

SC organizations voice support for DHEC’s Dr. Bell

Feeling that her warnings about COVID-19 aren’t given enough attention, a dozen South Carolina organizations issued an open letter expressing support for Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist.

A dozen groups, including medical organizations, academic societies and a church, all signed the letter praising Bell. A top official with the Department of Health and Environmental Control, Bell has also become a staple of Gov. Henry McMaster’s coronavirus briefings -- though she has often split from the governor on certain issues.

Bell has consistently advocated for a statewide mask mandate, while McMaster has repeatedly refused. And in emails uncovered by The State, Bell said the governor’s staff was “somewhat manipulative,” using her presence at press conferences to imply she was in agreement with policy decisions she did not in reality support.

“Dr. Bell’s advocacy for prevention measures that will save lives has been consistent since the announcement of the outbreak and her advice has echoed that of the established national and international experts,” the letter read. “However, her advisements have apparently been met with resistance. As a result, we are seeing a rise in positive cases, more deaths and an increasing impact on our healthcare system and our citizens.”

Most of the groups behind the letter are focused on issues impacting the Black community.

“I want to let it be known that a large part of the community, not just the Black community, but also the white community, support her, and we’d like to see her recommendations be heeded and we’d like to see her play a more prominent part in this whole thing that’s going on,” Dr. Burnett Gallman, a Columbia-area physician, said.

Some USC students ignore COVID safety

Pictures and video posted to social media show some University of South Carolina students flaunting social distancing and other familiar coronavirus safety guidelines, The State reported.

Dozens packed tight at an apartment complex swimming pool, a Snapchat picture captured. An Instragram post shows more than 60 people without masks gathered at the same spot. Another post showed a crowded indoor birthday party.

All three incidents happened at off-campus apartment complexes, The State reported.

USC spokesman Jeff Stensland said the university “has worked hard to educate property managers, and it would be very disappointing if they were not enforcing public health standards that are designed to protect the community.”

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill recently returned to online classes after coronavirus cases halted the school’s attempted reopening. Administrators say off-campus activity was largely behind UNC’s outbreaks.

COVID activity dropping in Lexington County

Over the last two weeks, coronavirus activity has dropped in Lexington County, sliding from “high” to “medium,” state data show.

That makes Lexington one of just seven South Carolina counties with a medium degree of COVID-19 activity, with the rest still seeing a high level of new infections. The other counties with medium activity are Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Marion and Horry, The State reported.

Whether a county is considered to have high, medium, or low levels of activity is determined largely by “incidence rate,” meaning the number of positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000.

From Aug. 3-16, Lexington’s incidence rate was 174.6 out of 100,000.

Students still unaccounted for due to pandemic

After South Carolina school buildings closed in the spring for virtual learning, nearly 16,000 students were unaccounted for by June and couldn’t be reached. But now nearly all have been located, state Social Services director Michael Leach told lawmakers Wednesday.

But there are still 371 children that haven’t been found or contacted, he said.

“I’ve been incredibly impressed with both the speed and willingness from people across our organization to get involved in this,” Leach told the Senate’s Reopen South Carolina, a panel focused on children’s services, The State reported.

The Department of Social Services is still trying to find the remaining students, with help from the S.C. Department of Education.

This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 6:50 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Aug. 20."