| Greenville News
Governor Henry McMaster on Friday afternoon assured South Carolina residents that the state will not be left without hospital beds, despite the continued increase in patients with COVID-19.
The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in South Carolina doubled in June, reaching a new daily high of 906 on Friday. But the state still has more than 2,500 hospital beds available, about 25% of the grand total.
As the COVID-19 cases go up: Deaths in South Carolina remain constant. For a while.
If the hospital’s occupancy rate reaches 80%, the South Carolina National Guard is ready to significantly increase the number of hospital beds available across the state. According to a plan that was first detailed in April, up to 3,000 additional beds could be added in one month.
These additional beds are likely to be located in old medical facilities, arenas and gyms, dormitories and hotels.
“I want to assure the people of this state: we are ready for this,” said McMaster during a news conference on Friday.
If necessary, McMaster said he is also prepared to ask hospitals to postpone elective surgery again.
– Wear your mask. Use your mask. Use your mask. ‘
The State Department of Environmental Health reported 1,273 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the second highest daily total during the ongoing pandemic. The number of cases in South Carolina jumped 152% this month, to a current total of 30,623.
An additional death was reported on Friday, bringing the state total to 694.
More: As COVID-19 cases increase, deaths in South Carolina remain constant. For a while.
DHEC also reported that 18.3% of COVID-19 tests administered on Thursday were positive, another one-day high.
“South Carolina is in the national and international headlines, but not in the way we would like,” said Joan Duwve, director of public health at DHEC. “Our state’s numbers have increased dramatically in recent weeks, making us now one of the country’s top spots for COVID-19.”
McMaster begged residents, especially those under 40, to follow the guidelines for social distance and to wear masks. The Republican governor wore a mask at the news conference in Columbia. He removed it when he took the podium.
“This is a dangerous deadly disease,” said McMaster. “You have to follow the rules. Wear your mask. Keep your distance from people, wash your hands.”
Moments later, he added, “Wear your mask. Wear your mask. Use your mask.”
McMaster’s comments came at the end of a week in which Greenville officials adopted an emergency law requiring residents to wear masks in supermarkets and pharmacies as part of an effort to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19. Similar measures were also passed in Clemson, Charleston and Columbia. Clemson University announced on Friday that students will need to wear masks and a negative breath test to return to campus.
McMaster said he will not try to impose a state rule requiring people to wear masks.
“Inspection is the problem and inspection is the challenge,” he said.
Authorities in Florida and Texas closed the bars in response to spikes in COVID-19 cases in those states. But McMaster said he would not take that step in South Carolina.
He said, however, that concert halls, performing arts centers like the Greenville Peace Center and spectator sports in South Carolina will remain closed until the state’s COVID-19 infection rate drops.
McMaster also said he is instructing the state Department of Health and Environmental Control to devise a plan to resume visits to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in South Carolina. Visitors are not allowed at most of these facilities. since March because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
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Kirk Brown covers government and politics. Follow him on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM.