Observation: The coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly developing event and this story contains information that has only been updated through July 13, 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.
Coronavirus news in Carolina del Sur: Companies offering contact with cercano pueden reopen
Full coverage: Everything you need to know about coronavirus in South Carolina
Map of coronavirus SC: An analysis of COVID-19 cases by county and postal code
Resolution passed at Easley to educate residents
Easley City Council passed a resolution to encourage and educate residents about wearing masks. The resolution does not require masks.
Council member Pat Webb said the resolution would be reviewed in two months or earlier, if cases increased, it could become mandatory through an ordinance and if cases remained stable or decreased, the resolution would be seen as a success.
Webb, Mayor Butch Womack and three other council members did not wear masks during the vote, two council members wore masks.
The two postal codes covering Easley have two of the three highest infection rates per capita among the eight postal codes in Pickens County.
Health condition in children
Parents need to be aware of a rare but potentially serious health condition in children that is related to COVID-19.
The first two cases of Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children in South Carolina, known as MIS-C, were confirmed on Sunday by state health officials. The announcement came a day after authorities reported that a Midlands child under the age of 5 died of COVID-19, the state’s first coronavirus-related child death since the pandemic began in March.
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SC sees 1,532 new cases on Monday
Today DHEC announced 1,532 new confirmed cases and 13 additional confirmed deaths. There are currently 1,488 hospital beds occupied by patients with a positive test or under investigation for COVID-19, and 205 of these patients are on ventilators.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 58,003 and confirmed deaths to 961.
Charleston had the highest number of new cases on Monday, with 279 positive cases.
The total number of individual test results reported to DHEC yesterday across the state was 7,230 (not including antibody tests) and the positive percentage was 21.2%.
GSP adds vending machines full of masks and other health products
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has installed two new vending machines for travelers to purchase personal protective equipment.
Clean & Safe Travels sales kiosks offer face masks, hand sanitizers, gloves and a selection of health and travel products. The machines are located in high traffic areas of Concourse A and Concourse B.
Clemson’s reopening plan confuses students, staff
Weeks before the fall classes begin August 19, Clemson University is changing its three-phase coronavirus reopening plan in favor of a “more holistic approach” due to the increase in coronavirus cases in the state.
In a July 2 email to employees, university officials explained the changes to the school’s reopening plan, which occurred after weeks of increased coronavirus cases in the state and county.
“We are stepping out of the formal stages in favor of a more holistic approach, designed to safely lead us to the same goal: a successful return to mostly normal operations in the fall,” said the email.
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Greenville Tech to reopen to students in late August
The fall semester at Greenville Technical College will begin on August 24 and masks will be required for students, staff and visitors, according to a school statement. Plexiglass barriers, social distance and frequent cleaning will also be available to maintain security.
Admission, financial aid, testing and business offices will be open to help students apply in person.
Face-to-face, hybrid and online classes will be offered so that “students can choose the option they prefer”.
Libraries on all campuses, the Tutoring Center, computer labs, the Writing Center and Math Center, Academic Counseling Centers and Care Center, and a food pantry on campus opened on Monday, said one communicated.
Charleston Hospital suspends elective surgery due to flood of COVID-19 patients, AP reports
As of Tuesday, employees at Roper St. Francis in Charleston said elective surgery would be suspended at its four facilities to release employees for a “relentless flood” of patients in need of treatment for COVID-19, according to a report from the AP by Meg Kinnard.
In total, 131 patients who fell ill after contracting the coronavirus were being treated at the hospital. This represents more than a third of all Roper’s hospital care, the report said.
Emergency surgeries will still be performed as needed, hospital officials said.
Greenville postpones measures to cancel festivals and meetings of 50 or more
City officials postponed the action on Monday night in a move that could have banned festivals and large public gatherings in Greenville for the rest of the summer.
Greenville City Council members were considering an emergency measure that would have allowed the city to temporarily stop issuing permits for meetings involving 50 or more people because of the continuing threat from COVID-19.
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Mask ordinances in SC vary from place to place
Laws requiring people to wear face masks in public to slow the spread of COVID-19 are emerging in cities and counties in South Carolina, but have been relatively slow to become popular in the interior of the state.
Five country towns – Greenville, Spartanburg, Clemson, Central and Greenwood – adopted decrees requiring masks in public earlier this week. Across the state, at least 51 cities and towns and seven counties have adopted ordinances mandating masks in at least some public places.
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What to know Monday
- State health officials reported 1,952 new confirmed cases and no probable new cases of the new coronavirus COVID-19 on Sunday, with an additional 10 deaths. The total number of confirmed cases in South Carolina is now 56,485, with 950 deaths.
- The total number of individual test results reported to DHEC Saturday across the state was 8,769 (not including antibody tests) and the positive percentage of those tests was 22.3%
- Two children were diagnosed with MIS-C, a rare health condition that occurs in some children and adolescents who have contracted COVID-19 or have been in contact with someone infected with the virus. One child is from the Midlands region and the other is from the PeeDee region. Both are less than 10 years old.
- Child under 5 out of 18 killed by virus on Saturday