Every day, The Greenville News publishes a new live story with the latest COVID-19 news relevant to our communities in the state. This is our COVID-19 news summary from December 13, 2020. We will update this story only until the end of the day.
Map of coronavirus SC: An analysis of COVID-19 cases by county and postal code
SC has almost 3,000 cases on Sunday
DHEC announced 2,924 new cases of coronavirus on Sunday and 44 deaths. The state now has a total of 234,392 cases and 4,387 deaths.
Greenville County led the state in reporting 491 cases on Sunday. Spartanburg had the second highest number of cases in the state, with 307 cases.
Of the 13,749 new individual test results reported across the state, 21.3% were positive.
Cumulatively, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson and Pickens counties, which account for about 22.8% of the state’s population, accounted for 36.5% of cases, up from 32.65% on Saturday.
Greenville County, which accounts for 10.2% of the state’s population according to Census estimates, was responsible for 16.79% of cases recorded on Sunday. Spartanburg, which represents 6.2% of the state’s population, was responsible for 6.9% of new cases (307). Anderson, who represents 3.9% of the population, was responsible for 4.7% of new cases (136), and Pickens, who accounts for 2.5% of the population, was responsible for 4.5% of cases (133) .
Vaccine distribution started in the USA
A day after authorizing the first COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S., federal officials said on Saturday that distribution began.
“As I speak today, vaccines are being packaged,” said General Gustave Perna, co-director of Operation Warp Speed responsible for logistics, on Saturday. “Tomorrow morning, vaccines will begin to roll from manufacturing to distribution centers. On Monday, vaccines will be received.”
The vaccine will be sent to 636 locations across the country this week, with 145 locations receiving doses on Monday, 425 on Tuesday and the last 66 on Wednesday, Perna said. “Make no mistake, the distribution has started,” said Perna.
Full story here
SC has more than 3,000 for the second consecutive day on Saturday
DHEC announced 3,047 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday and 12 deaths. The state now has a total of 231,363 and 4,344 deaths.
Greenville County led the state in reporting 510 cases on Saturday. Spartanburg had the third highest number in the state, with 217 cases.
Of the 13,234 new individual test results reported across the state, 23% were positive.
Cumulatively, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson and Pickens counties, which account for about 22.8% of the state’s population, were responsible for 32.65% of cases.
Greenville County, which accounts for 10.2% of the state’s population according to Census estimates, was responsible for 16.74% of cases recorded on Friday. Spartanburg, which represents 6.2% of the state’s population, was responsible for 7.12% of new cases (217). Anderson, who accounts for 3.9% of the population, accounted for 2.79% of cases (85), and Pickens, who accounts for 2.5% of the population, accounted for 6% of cases (183).
Greenville acts in the increase of COVID cases, highlights inspection challenges for restaurants
On Saturday night, a Greenville police officer entered Jianna, in downtown Greenville. According to the restaurant’s owner, Michael Kramer, the official told his management team that the department had received complaints about people who did not wear masks inside the restaurant.
The interaction was cordial and brief, and the policeman left after checking that people wore masks, Kramer said.
The check was one of about 40 COVID-19 compliance checks that Greenville police conducted on Friday and Saturday, according to Beth Brotherton, a city spokesman. The checks represent intensified efforts by the city to enforce the city’s COVID-19 law governing the use of masks, a response to the growing number of cases in Greenville, Brotherton said.
Read the full story here
The main committee endorses Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for FDA clearance and the beginning of vaccination in the U.S.
A committee of leading US vaccine scientists recommended on Thursday that the Food and Drug Administration authorize the first COVID-19 vaccine for Americans.
The endorsement paves the way for a final FDA decision and for mass vaccination to begin in a few days on thousands of health professionals and nursing home residents.
Read the full recent update: The main committee endorses Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for FDA clearance and the beginning of vaccination in the U.S.