The South Carolina Supreme Court suspended the grand jury’s selection because of concerns that the increase in coronavirus cases would be dangerous for courts too small to keep a distance between people.
Juries that have already been established may meet this month to consider the charges in their area, but will have to follow the court’s COVID-19 protocols.
Wednesday’s order from Supreme Court President Donald Beatty came less than a week after Beatty ordered the courts to suspend personal jury trials, which have been allowed since July.
More than 1,200 Southern Carolinians were hospitalized with the new coronavirus on Wednesday, while the state documented the sixth consecutive day with 2,000 or more new cases.
Nearly 13.5 percent of hospital patients across the state tested positive for the virus, according to the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control.
At least 10 percent of hospitalized COVID-19 patients use ventilators.
Only the Pee Dee region is seeing a lower occupancy of hospital beds than in July, DHEC data show, with no part of the state having less than 79% of capacity.
State figures
New cases reported: 2,139, which is 1,254 percent higher than the 158 registered on March 31, the day Governor Henry McMaster ordered the closure of non-essential deals.
Total cases in SC: 223,140, plus 16,304 probable cases
New deaths reported: 26
Total deaths in SC: 4,280 confirmed, 332 likely
Total tests in SC: 2,941,385
Hospitalized patients: 1,217
Percentage of positive tests, average of seven days: 20.9 percent. Five percent or less of the tests with positive results is a good sign that the spread of the virus is slowing, say the researchers.
Most affected areas
South Carolina’s top counties for new coronavirus cases on Wednesday were 345, Greenville; York, 175; and Richland, 172.
What about the tri-county?
Charleston County had 71 new cases; Berkeley, 39; and Dorchester, 36.
Deaths
Of the 26 new deaths, seven were middle-aged patients, aged between 35 and 64 years. Nineteen were elderly patients aged 65 and over.
They lived in Aiken, Cherokee, Chesterfield, Darlington, Georgetown, Greenville, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, Pickens, Spartanburg, Union and Williamsburg counties.
Hospitalizations
Of the 1,217 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 on Wednesday, 275 were in intensive care and 128 were on ventilators.
What do the experts say?
The authorities continue to urge Southern Carolinians to take precautions such as wearing masks or other facial coverings, social detachment and frequent hand washing.
They also recommend that anyone who believes they have been exposed to the virus or who are developing symptoms get tested. Those who live in the community or cannot distance themselves socially should be tested monthly, DHEC advised.
Go to scdhec.gov/findatest to find a test site in your area.
Talk to Sara Coello at 843-937-5705 and follow her on Twitter @smlcoello.