Mask requirements went into effect in North Charleston and Charleston County, and Horry County officials passed their own decree on Friday, with the number of positive coronavirus tests in the state growing by more than 1,500.
State public health officials also revised the number of infections reported on Thursday up by 16% and the number of cases reported on Wednesday by 9%.
The Horry County Council, at an emergency meeting at 6 pm, approved a mask requirement.
Horry County law has declared a state of emergency and requires people to wear facial coverings at retail stores, such as supermarkets, pharmacies and hairdressers. Employees must also cover their faces in areas open to the public. Violation of the law can result in a $ 25 fine and higher penalties for additional offenses. It went into effect on Friday and will last 60 days, unless the board decides to close it earlier.
Approximately 1 in 3 South Carolinians are now covered by mask requirements, with more than 40 cities and counties in South Carolina passing new rules in recent days as coronavirus cases have reached record levels. Horry was only the most recent.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control said it is working to update the way it extracts data to avoid the upward revisions seen in recent days.
Ten more people died of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, DHEC said.
State figures
Number of new cases reported: 1,558
Total number of cases in SC: 41,413
Number of new deaths reported: 10
Total number of deaths in SC: 787
Number of hospitalized patients: 1,148
Percentage of tests that were positive: 20.7 percent
Total number of tests in SC: 450,482
Which areas are most affected?
Charleston County led the state in confirmed new infections on Friday at 267. Horry County followed with 237.
What’s happening in the three counties?
The three counties area continued to see high numbers of coronavirus cases on Friday. In addition to the 267 new cases in Charleston County, Berkeley County registered 77 and Dorchester, 69.
Currently, the three counties area has more than 7,300 confirmed positive cases.
Deaths
Six of the new deaths came from people over 65 who lived in Anderson, Beaufort, Georgetown, Greenville, Laurens and Marion counties. Two deaths were of people aged 35 to 65 from Greenville and Kershaw counties. Two deaths were of young adults in Greenville and Kershaw counties.
How to stop the spread
Medical experts and government officials ask people to wear masks as cases increase. Cities and counties began to enact their own laws after Governor Henry McMaster refused to issue a state mask order.
State officials have asked South Carolina residents to avoid crowds, stand six feet away from others outside their homes and wash their hands regularly.
What do the experts say?
State public health officials have warned residents to stay away from large gatherings on the weekend of July 4 and celebrate responsibly, preferably staying at home and watching fireworks in their vehicles.
“We have all given so much for so long, and we all want to be on our beautiful beaches, in our parks, in our friends’ houses, at our neighborhood parties and community events, but I am asking all of us to be vigilant in the fight against this deadly virus, ”said Dr. Joan Duwve, director of public health for the state, on Tuesday.
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, the South Carolina Hospital Association and the South Carolina Medical Association have announced a television and social media campaign to ask people to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Matt Rasnic and Andy Shain contributed to this report.
Reach Stephen Hobbs at 843-937-5428. Follow him on Twitter @bystephenhobbs.