| The Greenville News & Independent Mail
Note: The coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly developing event and this story contains information that has only been updated through May 8, 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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Full coverage: Everything you need to know about coronavirus in South Carolina
Governor McMaster will likely address restrictions on ‘close contact’ companies
On Monday, Governor Henry McMaster said he would likely discuss when restrictions could be lifted in barbershops, beauty salons, gyms and other close-contact companies that were ordered to close due to COVID-19.
“We don’t think (the restrictions) will be lifted on Monday, but we hope to do that as soon as possible,” he said.
South Carolina restaurants were allowed to resume some indoor meals on Monday, and outdoor dining resumed this week.
“We are trying to do the best we can to make the people of South Carolina suffer as little as possible, and that means we should get back to work,” said McMaster.
DHEC reports two COVID-19 related deaths in Greenville County, cases continue to rise
State health officials reported on Friday that an additional 238 people tested positive for the new coronavirus, and another four died.
So far, 7,367 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in South Carolina and 320 people have died.
Of the deaths reported on Friday, two were elderly people from Greenville County, according to DHEC. Greenville County also led the state in new confirmed cases on Friday, with 31 people testing positive for the disease.
SC plans to test 110,000 people per month for COVID-19
South Carolina needs to dramatically increase its tests for COVID-19, said Dr. Linda Bell, a state epidemiologist, during a news conference on Friday.
She said that South Carolina has a goal of testing 2% of people not yet tested each month, that is, about 110,000 people per month starting this month. The data will be used to compare disease activity with other states and to understand what is happening in communities.
The tests will be targeted especially at nursing homes, low-income communities and rural communities, as well as urban areas.
Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or has contact with someone who has the disease should be tested, Bell said.
South Carolina suspends restrictions on boating and dining in restaurants
On Monday, indoor meals can be resumed in South Carolina restaurants, according to an order placed on Friday by Governor Henry McMaster.
The number of people in a restaurant at the same time will be limited to half its normal capacity. The state issued guidelines for social distance, cleaning tables, equipment and other restaurant surfaces. McMaster asked people to be careful and said that restaurant managers can decide whether to reopen on Monday.
“Many restaurants are experiencing great difficulties and many people are out of work,” McMaster told a news conference on Friday. He wanted the state to return to “full operation as soon as possible”.
All remaining restrictions on navigation were also lifted with the governor’s last request.
“Social detachment is still recommended and we ask the people of South Carolina to use common sense,” he said.
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More than 2 million in SC receive payments of economic impact
Economic impact payments, also called stimulus payments, reached 2,060,588 people in South Carolina, totaling more than $ 3.5 billion, according to a White House statement Friday.
In the past five weeks, nearly 130 million people in the United States have received payments worth more than $ 218 billion. US $ 2.5 billion in US territories were also given to residents there.
The Treasury Department expects to deliver more than 150 million payments of economic impact in total.
Qualified people who have not yet received an economic impact payment can check their payment status online.
Bob Jones University will open in August for face-to-face classes
Bob Jones University will open for face-to-face classes in late August.
The new students will arrive for the change and orientation of the residence on Friday, August 21. Classes start on Wednesday, August 26.
“I look forward to welcoming students back this fall,” said Steve Pettit, president of the BJU. “We miss having students on campus since mid-March, and it will be an exciting time in August as we welcome our new and old students and honor the Class of 2020.”
The Class 2020 will start on Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29.
Falls Park, Cancer Survivors Park to open on Saturday
Falls Park and Cancer Survivors Park will reopen at 6 am on Saturday, Mayor Knox White announced at a news conference on Friday.
The Swamp Rabbit trail will also be fully reopened, while the Liberty Bridge will remain closed.
The parks and the trail will be monitored and are being opened with the expectation that people will maintain their social distance.
Limited Greenville parking to provide more space for pedestrians
Parking spaces on Greenville’s Main Street, from Washington Street to McBee Avenue and on the Main Street bridge, will be closed to allow more space for pedestrians.
Mayor Knox White said officials are hopeful that the move will promote social detachment as businesses and parks begin to reopen in the city center.
Asheville Outlets to reopen on Saturday
Asheville Outlets will reopen on Saturday at 11am
More than a dozen retailers and restaurants will be open for business, according to a press release.
Store hours are Monday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm and Sundays from noon to 6pm.
Points of sale scheduled to open include Le Creuset, Rack Room Shoes, West Elm, Sportsman’s Warehouse and more.
Additional store opening announcements will be made in the coming days, according to the statement.
State superintendent takes care of internet problems for teachers, students
When the coronavirus pandemic forced schools to adopt e-learning, Internet connectivity became a problem for thousands of students and teachers across the state.
State superintendent Molly Spearman said that about 150,000 SC homes with students do not have reliable access to the internet.
And teachers, especially in rural areas, contacted Spearman for help in getting connectivity reliable enough to conduct online classes.
Now Spearman is working to find solutions for everyone to connect.
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Developing during COVID
Despite a pandemic that is normally closing deals for many companies, developers are on track or close to it on several projects in Upstate, including the Greenville Project Camperdown, the Downtown Greer Center G project and more.
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No hymnals in the church, no waiting lists in beauty salons
An advisory panel reviewed a series of proposals on Thursday that could affect the way businesses and attractions in South Carolina operate when they reopen.
Among the recommendations, there is the end of hymnals or hugs in the church and the elimination of waiting rooms in beauty salons. The recommendations were made with the limitation of the spread of COVID-19 in mind.
Governor Henry McMaster did not approve any of the proposed guidelines. He also did not announce when businesses like barbershops, gyms or theaters will be able to reopen.
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Here’s what to know Friday
- The number of unemployment insurance claims fell again last week, with 46,747 people filing an initial lawsuit from April 26 to May 2, according to data from the Department of Employment and Workforce. This is a decrease from 18,412 initial complaints from the previous week.
- Some COVID-19 stimulus checks were sent to people who died, but must be returned to the IRS.
- On Thursday, state health officials reported 214 new cases of the new coronavirus COVID-19 and 11 additional deaths. Since the outbreak began, 7,142 people tested positive for COVID-19 in South Carolina and 316 people with the disease have died.