| The Greenville News & Independent Mail
note: The coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly developing event and this story contains information that has only been updated through May 3, 2020. Some of the information here may have changed due to the nature of the pandemic; updates are reflected in more current stories. For news about the coronavirus outbreak and its impact in South Carolina, visit greenvillenews.com or independentmail.com.
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DHEC report on Sunday: 8 more deaths, 141 new cases
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control on Sunday reported 141 new cases of coronavirus and eight additional deaths.
The eight deaths all occurred in the elderly, according to DHEC.
The total number of deaths over the weekend is 19 and there have been 367 additional cases reported. Last week, at this time, there were 5,490 cases and 174 deaths reported.
South Carolina has 6,626 cases of coronavirus in total and 275 deaths related to COVID-19 infection.
State health officials report 11 more deaths from COVID-19 and 226 new cases
Another 11 deaths from COVID-19 were reported in South Carolina on Saturday, including an elderly person in Greenville County, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
A total of 226 new cases of COVID-19 have also been reported by DHEC. Twenty new cases have been reported in Greenville County. There were eight new cases in Spartanburg County and five new cases in Anderson County.
As of Saturday, 6,489 people had tested positive for COVID-19 in South Carolina and 267 died.
Meanwhile, sunny weather and warm temperatures brought people out, including two Georgia cyclists who walked the partially reopened rabbit trail and told Greenville News: “It feels incredible because all we’re doing is staying at the house and working. It’s good to relax and go out. ”
Read the story here.
Catholic churches in SC to resume services from May 11
Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston has decided to resume public masses throughout South Carolina, starting with daily mass on Monday, May 11, according to an e-mailed statement on Saturday.
Over the next week, pastors will develop a plan for how their parish will operate in the current climate, according to the statement. The plans will be developed based on the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Secretariat for Health and Environmental Control, mandates from the state government and recommendations from other dioceses that have already resumed their services.
These plans will then be sent to the diocesan leadership for approval and communicated to parishioners by 10 May.
Although diocesan authorities will do everything they can to provide a safe environment, the risk of contracting COVID-19 will still exist; therefore, Bishop Guglielmone will continue to grant exemption for those who do not feel comfortable attending the weekend Mass and who are at high risk until further notice. The live broadcast of the Mass will continue in several parishes and in the Chapel of the Sagrada Familia in Charleston until further notice.
“The time away from the sacraments, including Holy Communion, has been painful for the faithful of the diocese,” said Bishop Guglielmone. “We feel that now is the time to slowly reopen our parishes and, at the same time, take the necessary measures to better preserve the health of parishioners and priests.”
Democrats file federal lawsuit seeking changes in absent vote in SC
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the National Democratic Committee and the Democratic Party of South Carolina said they filed a federal lawsuit on Saturday, seeking changes to the absentee voting rules in South Carolina.
The state party filed a similar lawsuit last month with the South Carolina Supreme Court.
According to an e-mailed statement, the lawsuit filed on Saturday requires the following absent vote changes:
► Eliminate the “witness requirement” that would force voters living alone to cease social detachment practices in order to find someone to validate their safe vote.
► Removal of the “post tax” that requires voters to guarantee and attach their own post on an absent ballot. The lawsuit says that requiring voters to pay to vote is unconstitutional.
► Address the “election day cut” in a way that recognizes that the United States postal service is operating under tax demands during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although voters may send their ballots in time for court, the postal service may not receive them in time to count the votes of southern Carolans, the suit said.
► Removal of the “ban on absenteeism assistance”, which makes it a criminal offense for a candidate or member of the campaign team to help voters return their ballots.
“Every voter in South Carolina has the right to make his voice heard. That is why we are fighting for common sense measures to ensure a safe, fair and accessible election,” said Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez, according to Saturday’s statement. “We will not allow this pandemic to be used as an excuse to undermine our democracy.”
What to know this weekend
- On Monday, South Carolina will suspend its order to stay at home, but state health officials still recommend residents to practice social detachment, good hygiene and stay home when they can. The marsh rabbit trail through Greenville will also reopen next week, but the Falls Park and Cancer Survivors Park trail will remain closed.
- Also on Monday, restaurants will be able to open outdoor cafeterias, as long as they follow the standards of social distance and cleanliness recommended by the state.
- On Friday, state parks were reopened to the public after a month. In addition, crowds waited in line outside Haywood Mall before it opened again on Friday.
- On Friday, Greenville Mayor Knox White said the city would work with downtown restaurants to provide “extended outdoor space at social distance.”
- Amid layoffs and layoffs at hospitals across the state, some executives from local health systems still received bonuses.
- There were 160 new cases of the new coronavirus reported on Friday, and 12 additional deaths. A total of 6,258 people tested positive for COVID-19 in South Carolina and 256 people died. Data released Friday by DHEC show that 78% of people with COVID-19 have recovered and 22% of people with the disease remain ill.