| The Greenville News & Independent Mail
Observation: The coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly developing event and this story contains information that has only been updated through April 16, 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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Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott on the president’s task force to reopen America
Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott announced on Thursday that they will serve on President Trump’s task force in reopening the economy.
Graham, in a prepared statement, said he was confident that Americans could rise to the challenge.
“We must attack the coronavirus, expanding our capacity for widespread testing and the production of effective therapies and vaccines,” he said.
Scott also released a statement about the announcement that says, in part “As our country faces an unprecedented crisis in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that we put plans in place to keep Americans healthy and restart our economy.”
Scott is a former small business owner who claims to know that it is important for workers and our communities to find a safe way to get people back to work.
Nearly 4,000 infections reported in SC
There were 276 new cases of COVID-19 reported on Thursday afternoon, and two people who tested positive for the virus have died since Wednesday. Greenville County had 33 new cases and Anderson County seven.
In all, 3,931 cases were confirmed in the state and 109 people died. 36,284 examinations have already been carried out in the state.
State epidemiologist, Dr. Linda Bell, said the state is still in a phase of pandemic growth, and the number of cases is expected to increase. Pandemics generally disappear and can remain in the general population at a low level for a long period of time.
African-Americans have been disproportionately affected by data on the status of the coronavirus, Bell said. In South Carolina, African Americans are responsible for 56% of coronavirus-related deaths, but for 27% of the population. Bell said that African Americans are also disproportionately affected by health problems that can increase the risk of serious COVID-19 illnesses and, at times, do not have equal access to health care.
DHEC is stepping up outreach efforts to teach people about how chronic health conditions can exacerbate the symptoms of COVID-19. People with diabetes, heart and lung disease are at increased risk of serious illness. There will also be rapid test machines deployed in areas where testing is limited, said Bell.
“We realize that we are asking a lot from our residents, and it is not easy, but what we are asking residents of South Carolina, staying at home and limiting contacts, is critical to limit the spread of the virus and, ultimately, to save lives, “Bell said.
Withdrawals from Thursday’s COVID-19 media briefing
- Governor Henry McMaster ordered public boat ramps to be reopened for fishing and recreation, he added that people must still practice social detachment.
- The home order and other measures in place to promote social detachment could be lifted in a matter of weeks, McMaster said.
- State lawmakers are likely to be called back to the session in June to approve a spending plan in time for the beginning of the next fiscal year on July 1 and to prevent a state government shutdown.
- McMaster said he expects the state’s economy to be working well by the end of June. A group of representatives from the state’s main business industries will develop best business practices and a plan to gradually reopen the state’s economy, taking precautions against another outbreak of viruses.
- Hospitals are beginning to have more elective surgeries and will be prepared to deal with an expected increase in coronavirus patients in early May, said McMaster.
- State primaries on June 9 should not be postponed, said McMaster. If the absent vote is used, “we must be in good shape,” he said. State lawmakers will need to vote before the primaries to allow people to use the coronavirus pandemic as a reason to request an absent vote.
- South Carolina will receive $ 48 million in federal aid under the CARES Act. Funding will go to education, state and local governments to reimburse coronavirus response expenses.
- State health officials will look for a drop in disease activity to determine when it is safe for companies to reopen, but “we cannot choose a date when we are analyzing disease activity,” said state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell.
Read the full story.
McMaster tells lawmakers that business can resume safely in June
Governor Henry McMaster offered to convene a special session of the General Assembly in June so that lawmakers can pass a provisional budgetary measure to prevent the state government from closing on July 1.
The legislative session is scheduled to end on 14 May.
In a letter to legislative leaders, McMaster warned that “returning before May 14 for the session, even if briefly, could put the health and safety of its members at an increased risk of exposure to the virus.”
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Rep. Jeff Duncan: “Fight the virus AND open America”
Congressman Jeff Duncan is among national leaders who are pushing for a move to reopen the American economy while the country faces the COVID-19 crisis.
Duncan issued a long statement in which he did not take the virus seriously, but stressed the importance of not allowing the crisis to further damage the economy.
“Economic devastation and health devastation are equally important for us to tackle,” said Duncan. “At the same time, however, we cannot allow rising unemployment, closing businesses and struggling families to be the new normal.”
“I believe that the way forward must have two main priorities: fighting the virus AND opening up America,” added Duncan.
Duncan asked the country to pray for President Trump and for unity among the governors of the red and blue states as they navigate decisions around the transition.
“America needs the ‘Open’ signs to be lit along Main Street and Americans need the opportunity to get back to work,” said Duncan.
Amazon hires 1,100 new employees in SC
Amazon said it hired more than 1,100 employees in South Carolina in an effort to create more than 100,000 new jobs in the United States during the COVID-19 crisis.
In a statement on Thursday, the company said it was still trying to meet the demands of a wave of people who depend on delivery services during the pandemic.
The company expects to add an additional 75,000 new positions across the country, with about 800 more in South Carolina.
Interested candidates can apply at www.amazon.com/jobsnow.
State leaders urge the governor to allow elective procedures to resume
SC House House minority leader Todd Rutherford of Columbia is asking hospitals to resume elective procedures amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Last month, Governor Henry McMaster asked state hospitals to stop performing elective procedures. The change impacted the hospital’s income, generating employee leave.
McMaster spokesman Brian Symmes said on Thursday morning that the Republican governor is working with the South Carolina Hospital Association to “determine when and how hospitals can gradually resume elective surgery while retaining residents. of South Carolina insurance. “
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BMW Charity Pro-Am canceled in 2020
The BMW Charity Pro-AM will not take place this year, according to an organization tweet on Thursday.
The decision was made due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and tournament postponements and cancellations, according to the tweet.
The event and all related events scheduled from June 1-7 at the Thornblade Club, The Cliffs Valley and other locations upstate have been canceled.
Full story here
N95 masks made from 3-D printers delivered to MUSC
Nearly 100 3D-printed N95 masks were delivered to the Medical University of South Carolina earlier this week, helping to mitigate the shortage of medical masks.
The project was an idea in partnership with Citadel professor Dr. James Besjian and MUSC, according to a press release.
Bezjian and some of his students came up with the idea to create N95-equivalent masks using 3-D laser printers, a potentially revolutionary way to produce life-saving medical equipment, the statement said.
The masks were made with the help of 3-D printers at colleges, universities and public school systems across the state.
Unemployment claims increase again in SC
A further 87,686 people filed for unemployment between April 5 and April 11, according to figures recently released by the state Department of Employment and Workforce.
This is an increase from the previous week’s 85,018 claims for unemployment insurance.
DEW has processed 268,614 complaints in the four weeks since the pandemic began, according to an agency statement.
DEW added dozens of call center employees to help control the phone lines during the increase – with 292 people on the team now, as opposed to the usual 46. She expects to reach 500 by the end of next week.