| The Greenville News and Independent Mail
note: The coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly developing event and this story contains information that has only been updated through May 12, 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.
Map SC COVID-19: County by county study in coronavirus cases
Coronavirus news in Carolina del Sur: Companies that offer contact with cercano el 18 de maio
Full coverage: Everything you need to know about coronavirus in South Carolina
State legislators approve vote without excuse
The state General Assembly passed a temporary measure on Tuesday to allow South Carolina voters to vote without excuse in the June 9 primaries and any subsequent runoff. The measure will go to Governor Henry McMaster for his signature.
Under current law, voters must cite one of the 15 reasons to vote absent.
Senator Brad Hutto, an Orangeburg Democrat, said allowing voters to vote without excuse “will avoid long lines at the polls in June.”
Read the story
SC General Assembly approves measure to prevent state government shutdown
On Tuesday, South Carolina lawmakers approved a provisional budgetary measure that will keep the state government running when the new fiscal year begins on July 1.
Because of uncertainty about how the coronavirus pandemic will affect state revenues, lawmakers are likely to wait until September to come up with a new spending plan.
“Obviously, our economy is in a free fall right now,” said Rep. Murrell Smith, a Sumter Republican who is chairman of the House Forms and Resources Committee to draft the budget.
In addition to funding the state government at current levels, the measure approved on Tuesday allocates $ 181.5 million in state funds to respond to the ongoing pandemic. That amount includes $ 25 million for a statewide COVID-19 test program and up to $ 15 million to protect the health and safety of voters and election officials. The remaining money will be used to cover first aid expenses and help hospitals in financial difficulty.
The budget measure also gives lawmakers control over the distribution of $ 1.9 billion in federal aid for coronavirus.
Governor Henry McMaster “is more than happy to work with the General Assembly on this effort, but the normal budgeting process is one that is not built for quick delivery of resources.” said McMaster spokesman Brian Symmes. “Given the importance of these funds being distributed quickly, the governor asks the General Assembly to act urgently and with discipline to take this money to those who need it without delay.”
South Carolina death toll increases as test increases
South Carolina health officials on Tuesday reported 147 new cases of COVID-19 and 9 deaths. Greenville County led the state on Tuesday in number of new cases, reporting 33 in total.
Since the beginning of March, 7,927 people tested positive for COVID-19 in South Carolina and 355 people with the disease have died.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services says it is on track this month to test 2% of the population, or 110,000 people. Information on mobile screening and testing sites is available online.
https://www.scdhec.gov/infectious-diseases/viruses/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-screening-testing-sites
Greater Greenville Pledge urges companies to reopen responsibly
The city of Greenville announced a marketing campaign on Tuesday that urges companies to “reopen responsibly” as restrictions on South Carolina’s coronavirus are being eased.
The campaign includes bilingual resources for reopening and recovery, as well as a downloadable marketing package for companies and a hashtag #GreaterGVLPledge. There is also a video campaign to help promote the promise.
Read the story.
Southside Christian plans graduation in person
Southside Christian School will hold in-person graduation ceremonies on May 29 at 8 pm at the Saber Stadium, according to a school statement.
8 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the Coca-Cola bottler in Piedmont
Coca-Cola Consolidated employees confirmed eight cases of COVID-19 among employees at a Piedmont bottler.
The facility on Old Williamston Road employs 340 people.
Coca-Cola Consolidated officials say employees who have been in contact with those who have tested positive have been placed in a mandatory 14-day quarantine and the facility has been sanitized.
Read the story.
State lawmakers can take control of $ 1.9 billion in federal aid for coronavirus
State lawmakers may soon be tasked with deciding how to spend federal coronavirus aid money in South Carolina. A budgetary measure that must be voted on by the House of Representatives and the state Senate would allow Governor McMaster to accept the funds at the same time. which gave the General Assembly the power to decide how they are spent.
Republican state senator Ross Turner of Greenville wants to use about 20% of the federal coronavirus aid South Carolina is receiving to replenish the state’s unemployment fund, which he says is decreasing by $ 60 million a week.
Turner said the state’s unemployment trust balance had dropped from $ 1.1 billion to $ 970 million, as the number of jobless residents has increased in recent weeks.
Read the story.
Black lawmakers ask for more COVID help for black companies and rural communities
A group of black state lawmakers said on Monday that South Carolina officials need to provide more COVID-19 tests and help residents of predominantly black rural communities – populations that have been profoundly and disproportionately affected by the virus.
State Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter said the COVID-19 test is a necessity because “we reopened the state and reopened the risk of exposure”.
At the moment, state officials say they plan to test about 2% of the state’s population each month. Cobb-Hunter said that it is not enough.
Read the story.
South Carolina ranks last in the US in COVID-19 tests
South Carolina is testing COVID-19 less than any other state in the country, according to Worldometers, a statistics website.
As of Monday, South Carolina had tested 17,474 per one million people, the lowest rate in the U.S.
State and private laboratories conducted 89,968 COVID-19 tests in Palmetto State, covering about 1.7% of the population, state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said during an afternoon news conference on Monday.
Read the story.
Here’s what to know Tuesday
- Contact companies near South Carolina, such as gyms, salons and swimming pools, may reopen on May 18, according to an announcement by Governor McMaster on Monday. These companies will face strict guidelines on how to operate and security measures.
- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, along with leaders from 18 other states, are requesting an investigation into the Chinese government’s role in the pandemic COVID-19.
- Many restaurants in downtown Greenville were serving customers in open-air dining spaces on Monday, but only a few appeared to have groups of customers sitting inside on the first day that indoor dining was allowed in the state.
- The annual “Red, White & Blue” festival in the city of Greenville and the fireworks show can be transferred to Greenville Downtown Airport. And unless you park nearby, the experience will be much like everything today – virtual.
- High school athletes who face an uncertain sports season in the fall are already wondering what to do as they enter the summer, usually around the time college offers arrive.
- Greenville Technical College will offer face-to-face classes in the fall starting August 24th. Summer classes will remain online. A college spokesman said students can choose between face-to-face courses, online courses and a combination of the two.
- On Monday, state health officials reported 140 new cases of coronavirus and 15 deaths. South Carolina had 7,792 confirmed cases and 346 coronavirus-related deaths.