| The Greenville News & Independent Mail
note: The coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly developing event and this story contains information that was only updated until June 24, 2020. Some of the information here may have changed due to the nature of the pandemic; updates are reflected in more current stories. For the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak and its impact in South Carolina, visit greenvillenews.com or independentmail.com.
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The city of Clemson requires the use of masks in public
The city of Clemson will require people to wear masks in public to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The ordinance was unanimously approved. It goes into effect on Thursday and will expire in 60 days, or until the City Council votes to end it.
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SC lawmaker calls McMaster a ‘trembling child’
In a speech at the Statehouse on Wednesday afternoon, Republican state deputy Jonathon Hill of Townville sharply criticized Governor Henry McMaster’s treatment of the coronavirus pandemic.
Hill said McMaster acted like “a shaky child in the middle of a storm hidden under the bed with the family dog and teddy bears”.
“The governor showed weakness. He showed uncertainty. He showed bad judgment,” said Hill. “The people of South Carolina got hurt. And I don’t know about you, but it makes me angry.”
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Lake Hartwell beaches open; some areas for daytime use, visitor centers remain closed
Most areas of daily use and facilities operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reopened on Wednesday. Open-day beaches and camping areas have also been opened, according to a statement.
In Lake Hartwell, the Georgia River Day Use / Fishing Pier, Big Oaks, Singing Pines, Twin Lakes, Twelve Mile, Broyles, Friendship, River Forks and Elrod Ferry daytime areas; Poplar Springs and Weldon Island will remain closed until the end of the 2020 season.
Playgrounds and lifejacket lending stations for use on open days and camps at the lake will remain closed, as will the visitor centers and the Director of Operations Project Manager at Lake Hartwell, according to a statement.
Visitors are required to bring their own soap, hand sanitizer and paper towels when using the bathrooms in these areas of daily use. Visitors should also follow the social distancing guidelines established by the CDC, said a statement.
Greenville County Schools will allow younger students to take virtual classes in the fall
More parents in Greenville County will be able to enroll their children in virtual schools this fall, the district announced on Wednesday.
In previous years, the Greenville County school district offered only virtual high school courses. Now, students from kindergarten through 12th grade will be able to complete their work online.
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Greenville County reports more than 200 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced on Wednesday that there are 1,291 new confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state, as well as 10 additional deaths.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases is now 27,842 and has reached 683.
Greenville County led with 241 new cases, followed by Horry County with 183 and Charleston County with 175.
Greenville offers $ 1,000 grants to help small businesses
The city of Greenville is offering a unique $ 1,000 grant to small business owners to help them recover from the economic effects of COVID-19.
Qualified businesses include restaurants, bars, hotels, retail or those classified as personal services. The company must have a physical store within the city limits and its owner must live in Greenville County.
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Greenville’s COVID test sites strive to meet demand
An increase in demand for spot tests for COVID in Greenville has made medical clinics struggling to keep up, sometimes leaving those seeking a diagnosis frustrated and confused.
The process of taking the test in Upstate has not been as easy as going to the nearest hospital or medical clinic and making a cotton swab.
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Looking for a COVID-19 test?: Here’s what you should know before you go
As cases increase, deaths in South Carolina remain constant. For a while.
There has been little change in the number of COVID-19 deaths in Greenville County and throughout South Carolina this month, even as the number of new cases doubled and hospitalizations peaked.
One possible explanation is the two to three week time lag between positive test results and coronavirus deaths, according to a doctor from the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Another factor may be that an increasing number of younger people are becoming infected. People in this age group are considered less likely than older individuals to die from coronavirus.
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Greenville’s new mask requirement started Tuesday
Grocery shoppers in Greenville settled on Tuesday on the first day after the city enacted an emergency law that requires customers from supermarkets and pharmacies on the outskirts of the city to wear masks in an effort to stem the rising tide of cases of coronavirus in Greenville.
Some were in favor of the ordinance, while others were not.
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What to know Wednesday
- The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced on Tuesday that 890 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, as well as 14 additional deaths. The total number of confirmed cases is now 26,572, along with 673 related deaths.
- Governor Henry McMaster, along with the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, the SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and the SC Department of Health and Environmental Controls revealed Palmetto’s Commitment of Priority at a news conference at Tuesday. Palmetto Priority is a formal commitment made by South Carolina restaurant owners to provide a clean and safe environment for their employees and customers to demonstrate the real care they are taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to the website of initiative.
- Horry County launched a new website on Tuesday with the aim of committing business leaders, residents and visitors to do their part to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, allowing the county to remain open.