| 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 6, 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.
Map SC COVID-19: County by county study in coronavirus cases
Coronavirus news in Carolina del Sur: Order to leave at home the work is about to end
Full coverage: Everything you need to know about coronavirus in South Carolina
DHEC plans to test 220,000 in SC by the end of June, including all residents and employees of the nursing home
South Carolina health officials announced on Wednesday that they planned to partner with the United States’ largest private testing laboratory company, LabCorp, to test all 40,000 residents and employees of the state’s 194 long-term care facilities. until the end of May.
The effort marks the first step in a phased approach to greatly expand diagnostic tests for the new coronavirus across South Carolina, in an effort to test 2% of state residents, more than 220,000 people by the end of June , according to DHEC health public director Joan Dewve.
It is all part of the state’s effort to contain the virus as the state begins to reopen its economy, Governor Henry McMaster said at a news conference on Wednesday.
“The disease is chasing us. We are now chasing the disease, “said McMaster when announcing the test plan, which he said was made possible through supplies obtained from federal sources.
Here is a complete story about the expanded testing program implemented across the state this week.
More: SC to test all 40,000 nursing home residents, employees and significantly expand testing elsewhere
South Carolina exceeds 300 Covid-19 deaths
South Carolina has reported 9 additional deaths from Covid-19 symptoms, which brings the state’s total deaths from the virus to 305, DHEC reported on Wednesday. He reported 97 additional new cases, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 6,936.
All deaths occurred in the elderly in Allendale, Charleston, Florence (2), Lexington, Richland (2), Williamsburg and York counties.
Among the new cases, five were reported in Greenville and four in Anderson.
Governor McMaster and state health leaders will hold a press conference at 4 pm
Governor Henry McMaster and state health leaders will hold a press conference at 4 pm to address the latest information on the coronavirus pandemic and its effects in South Carolina.
The press conference will be broadcast live on this link.
USC returning to face-to-face classes in the fall semester
The University of South Carolina will return to face-to-face classes in the fall semester, according to a message from President Robert Caslen.
The university will begin a phased reopening process this summer, which will begin allowing certain populations of students, staff and activities on campus to test the university’s health and safety measures.
However, returning to campus in August is not mandatory, said Caslen, and the USC will expand its online courses for the semester if students do not feel safe to return to campus. The university will also allow students to postpone their studies for a semester, the message says.
“We respect each person’s decision to return or delay their return and will expand our online course offerings to accommodate those who choose to stay away.”
Full story here
Clemson will distribute about $ 7 million in CARES funds to students this week
Clemson University is distributing $ 6.6 million in funding under the CARES Act this week to nearly 9,000 students with proven financial need, according to a university press release.
Emergency cash grants will be distributed in amounts ranging from $ 500 to $ 1,000 and will be given to students based on their FAFSA forms – or federal student aid form – for this academic year.
“According to Clemson’s distribution of these funds, all students with proven financial need … will receive emergency financial assistance,” the statement said.
Read the full story here.
State educators discuss challenges to distance learning, debuting in August
The AccelerateED committee met for the second time on Wednesday morning to discuss how to address education-related challenges during the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the issues discussed was social detachment when schools can resume working in person. Committee members hope to find measures to provide enough PPE for educators and address issues of keeping distance between students.
Another issue that the committee hopes to resolve with federal funds donated to the state is the expansion of broadband internet so that students in rural areas have better access to digital learning.
Flat Rock Playhouse cancels 2020 season
Flat Rock Playhouse has said it will cancel the rest of its 2020 season and move the entire Mainstage series to 2021, according to a theater press release. Ticket holders will be contacted by the Playhouse box office staff from the next few days about their tickets.
Housing aid on the way
We updated housing assistance information available through United Way of Greenville County.
The organization announced on Tuesday that it is launching an Emergency Housing Assistance Fund to help families in the area who are struggling economically due to COVID-19, including, but not limited to, those who have lost their jobs and wonder how to keep a roof over your heads.
The fund, which has a $ 450,000 pledge from various community partners, was supported with an initial $ 150,000 investment from the COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, according to a United Way statement.
To donate to the fund, visit unitedwaygc.org/response
People can call 2-1-1- to learn more about how to get assistance if they need emergency shelter, rent or mortgage assistance during the pandemic.
Pomegranate on Main is eagerly paying to thank rescuers
Pomegranate on Main is launching an advance payment effort called “POM it forward” to thank rescuers with meals during this time.
Each $ 5 donation will feed a rescuer. People can donate to the GoFundMe website: gofundme.com/f/pomitforward.
“As we continue to serve Greenville, I see the dilemma that we have and the pressure that the first respondents have put on their shoulders and I want to help out a little,” said Ali Saifi, owner of Pomegranate on Main.
Here’s what to know Wednesday
- A survey of some 4,500 South Carolina companies shows that 40% have laid off or laid off employees during the coronavirus pandemic, and 43% of those companies do not expect to bring all of their employees back in the next three months.
- Health care consumers are becoming more likely to use telehealth services since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, but only 25% have actually used them so far, a recent survey showed.
- On May 11, Catholic churches in South Carolina will reopen for mass, two months after the churches closed due to COVID-19.
- Food assistance requests are almost twice as many as on a normal day. Between April 20 and 27, an average of 1,429 entries were received per day. There are typically about 700 to 800 applications.
- South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control statistics released on Tuesday show that an additional 93 people tested positive for COVID-19 and another 13 people with the disease died. On May 5, there were 6,841 confirmed cases and 296 people died. DHEC also released updated information on COVID-19 in 77 nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the state, where 851 people tested positive and 55 COVID-19-related deaths were reported.