COLOMBIA – With the emergence of new cases of COVID-19, the Mayor of Columbia and officials from South Carolina’s largest hospital system asked residents on Wednesday to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, saying that personal revelry is a very big risk.
Major cities across the state have seen major commemorative events canceled or moved online as the coronavirus continues its attack, filling hospital beds and making thousands sick since Christmas.
“Everyone is very concerned about the hurricane season, and if someone told the South Carolinaers that we have a category five hurricane that will hit the coast, I bet everyone would do whatever was necessary to get out of the way, and this is happening with COVID, “said Mark O’Halla, executive director of Prisma Health, during a virtual press conference.
“It is a type of Category Five situation and therefore we need everyone to be smart,” he added.
South Carolina has registered more than 11,000 new cases of COVID-19 since Christmas, and most school districts in the capital region will begin 2021 on a virtual schedule to prevent possible infections at holiday meetings.
The percentage of people with a positive test who take the COVID-19 test has exceeded 31%. This is six times what the federal government considers ideal and the clearest reminder that the disease remains a substantial threat, said Richard Scott, clinical director of Prisma Health-Midlands.
“The great thing that is happening now is that the vaccine is available and being launched. Imagine, you can finally hear the cavalry coming from the summit and for us to falter at this point it would be catastrophic, ”he said. “We can look at New Year’s Eve in July as a reminder of the sacrifice we made, or we can look back with regret that we didn’t do this and lose another family member.”
In Richland County alone, there have been 2,417 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the past two weeks, and more than 26,000 collectively since the state’s first cases were confirmed in March, according to state public health data.
These numbers, together with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social gathering restrictions and guidance, prompted Columbia to change its “Hot New Year” subscription event to a virtual format for the first time.
“We have the opportunity to do the right thing and slow the spread of the virus or do the wrong thing and cause many more diseases and deaths,” said Mayor Steve Benjamin.
The gala will feature a performance by the hip-hop group Arrested Development and a performance by Hootie and the Blowfish, along with other celebrities.
But this year, the popular fireworks display at SC Statehouse ended in favor of a virtual firework show.
It will be an admittedly less exciting experience, but one that may well save lives, said Benjamin.
“It is our turn to say goodbye to the year that is probably more difficult than any of us could imagine,” he said. “We can do this safely or recklessly.”
And for those who are considering meeting on the holiday, Benjamin said authorities will “go into effect” to regulate a city law that requires facial coverage to be used in public, with $ 100 fines for offenders.
In other parts of the state, events planned for New Year’s Eve have also been canceled, such as the Reedy River Grand Ball in Greenville, presented by organizers as a 700-person meeting in Westfield Greenville’s 20,000-square-foot space.
That function was canceled on Tuesday, as city leaders held a news conference announcing the shortage of hospital staff and the capacity for beds related to coronavirus patients seeking care.
Two companies in the Myrtle Beach area with plans announced for the New Year on Wednesday backed down after the Post and Courier reported that they were likely to be operating out of Governor Henry McMaster’s 11 pm curfew for serving alcohol.
Officials also said that a New Year’s Eve event at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, which is expected to attract 1,000 people, will not take place.
Follow Adam Benson on Twitter @ AdamNewshound12.