South Carolina - Coronavirus COVID-19

[Rose in SC]

SOUTH CAROLINA
According to Wikipedia, South Carolina has a population of 5,148,714.
As of March 31 at 4:30pm, we're up to 1,083 COVID-19 cases with 22 deaths.

From wistv.com (link below)
The governor (McMaster) is closing businesses in three categories for 15 days beginning Wednesday, April 1 per his executive order:

Entertainment – bowling alleys, night clubs, arcades, concert halls, theaters, auditoriums, performing arts centers, tourist attractions including museums, racetracks , indoor children play areas (excluding daycares), adult entertainment venues, bingo halls, venues operated by social clubs

Athletic facilities and activities – fitness centers and gyms, spas and public pools, spectator sports, events that require shared sporting equipment, public playground equipment

Close contact service providers – barber shops, hair salons, waxing salons, nail salons, spas, body art facilities, tattoo parlors, tanning salons, massage therapy

“The virus is still spreading and still growing,” McMaster said. “We have to do everything we can... but not go too far and destroy businesses and jobs people are depending on.”

He added: “The bare minimum will close.”

S.C. governor closes all non-essential businesses to help fight spread of coronavirus as cases rise

Guess it's better than nothing - only 2 weeks and "the bare minimum will close." Still no stay-at-home order.

 

[Rose in SC]

Good Resource: South Carolina DHEC site
Scroll down a bit to see totals. Make take a few minutes (at least it does on my old laptop).

Today's latest tally: 1,083 cases / 22 deaths

Testing & SC Data (COVID-19) | SCDHEC

 

[Rose in SC]

Good Resource: The COVID Tracking Project

March 31, 2020 - According to this site, of the 1,083 current cases, only 259 are hospitalized.

Statewide, only 5,699 tests have been performed with 4,616 testing negative (SC population - 5,148,714).

The COVID Tracking Project

 

[Rose in SC]

TONIGHT (APRIL 1) BEGINNING AT 6:35PM - Just in case anyone is interested

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - AARP SC is hosting a free tele-town hall for their members and the public that will focus on financial security during the coronavirus pandemic.
AARP SC will share information about the federal stimulus package, South Carolina unemployment, and remaining financially secure during this crisis during this free call.

Top officials and experts who will be join joining Teresa Arnold, the state director of AARP SC, on the call include:

• Sen. Lindsey Graham
• Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn and
• A representative from South Carolina DEW

The tele-town hall will take place on April 1 from 6:35 p.m. until 7:35 p.m. In adhering to social distancing, the panelist will connect to the call from their respective locations.

How to Join
If you would like to take part in the tele-town hall you can

• register at the following link: https://vekeo.com/aarpsouthcarolina/. Those who sign up will be added to a call list.
• or call 877-229-8493, using the PIN 114681

AARP South Carolina’s “tele-town hall” format calls registrants and invites them to listen to and participate in a “talk radio show” over their phone while also allowing people to call in on their own.

AARP SC hosts free tele-town hall focusing on financial security during COVID-19 pandemic

 

[JerseyGirl]

CORONAVIRUS: SC governor closes non-essential businesses

An executive order has been issued by Gov. Henry McMaster to close non-essential and close-contact businesses by 5 p.m. tonight.

The order is in place for 15 days and includes the following:

• Night clubs
  
• Bowling alleys
  
• Arcades
  
• Concert venues
  
• Theaters, auditoriums, and performing arts centers
  
• Tourist attractions (including museums, aquariums, and planetariums)
  
• Racetracks
  
• Indoor children’s play areas (excluding daycare facilities)
  
• Adult entertainment venues
  
• Bingo halls
  
• Venues operated by social clubs
  
• Fitness and exercise centers and commercial gyms
  
• Spas and public or commercial swimming pools
  
• Group exercise facilities, to include yoga, barre, and spin studios or facilities
  
• Spectator sports
  
• Sports that involve interaction with another person in close proximity and within less than six (6) feet of another person
  
• Activities that require the use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment
  
• Activities on commercial or public playground equipment
  
• Barber shops
  
• Hair salons
  
• Waxing salons
  
• Threading salons
  
• Nail salons and spas
  
• Body-art facilities and tattoo services
  
• Tanning salons
  
• Massage-therapy establishments and massage services

 

[Rose in SC]

SOUTH CAROLINA
SC DHEC Update - April 1, 3:56pm

1,293 positive cases
26 deaths

Still no statewide stay-at-home advisory although many (not all) non-essential business have closed until April 15.

Testing & SC Data (COVID-19) | SCDHEC

 

[Rose in SC]

SOUTH CAROLINA
SC DHEC Update - Thursday, April 2, 4:04pm

1,554 positive cases
31 deaths

Again, no statewide stay-at-home mandate from the governor.

 

[Rose in SC]

Amazon worker in West Columbia (Cayce) tests positive.

Amazon worker in W. Columbia diagnosed with COVID-19

 

[Rose in SC]

“That’s what is dumbfounding,” Rep. Seth Rose, D-Richland County, said. “As we baby step towards what needs to be done, according to experts, to slow the spread of this virus and to protect the citizens of South Carolina. I don’t understand why he hasn’t taken that step and told the citizens under the force of law you must stay at home.”

Neighboring states Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and now Florida have all issued a stay-at-home order. South Carolina is one of only 13 states without such an order as of Wednesday evening.

State representatives call for Gov. McMaster to issue ‘stay-at-home’ order

 

[Rose in SC]

SOUTH CAROLINA
SC DHEC Update - Friday, April 3 4:55pm

1,700 positive cases (+146)
34 deaths (+3)

Governor McMaster has a presser coming up - will he finally issue a stay-at-home order? South Carolina remains one of only 11 states without such a mandate.

Testing & SC Data (COVID-19) | SCDHEC

 

[Rose in SC]

S.C. governor suspends short-term rentals, closes more non-essential businesses effective Monday

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Gov. Henry McMaster has issued two new executive orders to address the coronavirus outbreak in South Carolina.

McMaster has expanded his original order closing non-essential businesses to now include the following types of stores: furniture, jewelry, department, clothing and shoes, florists, books, crafts and music stores.

Stores that can remain open include grocery stories, gas stations, hardware stores, home improvement stores and firearm retailers.

This order will go into effect Monday, April 6 at 5 p.m.

The governor’s other executive order goes into effect immediately. It suspends short-term rentals throughout the state to people traveling from coronavirus hotspots across the country. This includes hotels, short-term rentals, vacation homes, B&B’s, timeshares, etc.

Members of the military, first responders and commercial transport workers are exempt from this order.

S.C. governor suspends short-term rentals, closes more non-essential businesses effective Monday

 

[Rose in SC]

SOUTH CAROLINA
Update - Saturday, April 4 - 3:54pm

1,917 positive cases (+217)
40 deaths (+6)

We'll easily surpass 2,000 cases tomorrow. Still no statewide stay-at-home order although the cities of Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Columbia, and (possibly) Greenville have issued their own (despite threats of legal action from SC Attorney General Alan Wilson).

Testing Update
Total negative tests - 16,397
Total positive tests - 1,917
Total number of tests performed in South Carolina - 18,314

Testing & SC Data (COVID-19) | SCDHEC

 

[Rose in SC]

THE CURVE LOOKS SPOOKY
Interview with Dr. Michael Schmidt, an immunologist and epidemiologist at MUSC in Charleston

Dr. Schmidt: "The South Carolina curve is looking a bit spooky . . . We can anticipate in the next week or so to see many more cases in South Carolina, which is scary for most people. And we are hoping that the social distancing we have all been following will actually limit the number of cases. But presently we are seeing that our curve will probably not peak until the end of the month, and that's a long way away."

Full interview and video at link.
’The curve looks spooky’: An immunologist reacts to South Carolina’s lack of a stay-at-home order

 

[Gardenista]

A ‘never-ending hurricane’: Beaufort Memorial Hospital leaders on coronavirus prep

 

[AStartoSteerBy]

South Carolina Announces Latest COVID-19 Update | SCDHEC

DEHEC's April 3rd report.

" A total of 18,314 tests by both DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory and private labs have been conducted in the state."
This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 1,917"

So, the percentage of positive tests in SC is about 10.5%?

It's hard to say if 18,000 tests represent a balanced enough sample of the 5M population. Is the sample representative of the state? Probably lots of epidemiologists and public health folks looking at this. If the testing is representative for the state's population, that's relatively good news for SC.

Also, encouraging for SC is the DHEC report that hospital bed availability is not increasing. "The overall trend this week has been in greater hospital bed availability, specifically a 6.4 percent decrease in hospital bed utilization since March 23" --which presumably was the beginning of measures to decrease the spread and "flatten the curve."
Thinking out loud, that if there was as widespread community transmission as in other states that the two week mark would show a rise in hospital admissions. Yet, the DHEC report indicates a decrease.

Overall, it looks like the measures are working in SC. Specific counties might be a different story?
Continued testing will help to identify the situation better.

(As of the data this morning, April 5th)
Georgia is running a positive on roughly 25% of tests. (26294 tests, with 6383 positives)
North Carolina is reporting 38773 tests and 2402 positives (approximately, 6.2% positive).

No conclusions, just questions!

 

[Rose in SC]

SOUTH CAROLINA
Update - Sunday, April 5 - 3:30pm

2,049 positive cases (+132)
44 deaths (+4)

Testing Update
Total negative tests - 16,927
Total positive tests - 2,049
Total number of tests performed in South Carolina - 18,976 (+338)

Testing & SC Data (COVID-19) | SCDHEC

 

[Rose in SC]

Love this story!

LEESVILLE, S.C. (WIS) - When the state of South Carolina needed hand sanitizer, Craig and Meredith Amick’s distillery was the first one asked to pivot to help during this pandemic. The Amicks say the S.C. Department of Transportation called them in the middle of March to start producing hand sanitizer as fast as possible. They say after the call they got an explainer from the FDA on how to make hand sanitizer and started working right away.

"I got a call on Wednesday. We got started changing over the facility on Thursday. Ordered everything on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, and made the first delivery on the following Monday," said Hollow Creek Distillery owner Craig Amick.

From Spirits to Sanitizer: How one S.C distillery changed their business overnight

 

[Rose in SC]

SOUTH CAROLINA
Update - Monday, April 6 - 4:42pm

2,232 positive cases (+183)
48 deaths (+4)

Testing Update
Total negative tests - 19,152
Total positive tests - 2,232
Total number of tests performed in South Carolina - 21,384

Testing & SC Data (COVID-19) | SCDHEC

 

[Rose in SC]

SOUTH CAROLINA - FINALLY! Although the rules are somewhat convoluted at this time. You can work OR stay home OR visit family …. ???

Gov. McMaster issues ‘home or work order,’ limits customers for retail businesses
Posted: Apr 6, 2020 / 03:41 PM EDT / Updated: Apr 6, 2020 / 04:44 PM EDT

COLUMBIA, SC (WBTW) – Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday issued a mandatory “work or home order” for the state and a customer limit for retail businesses.

Beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday, “everyone should stay home unless working, visiting family, recreating outdoor or obtaining necessary goods,” McMaster said.

“Too many people are on the roads, too many on the waters, in the stores, and too many are not complying with our request concerning social distancing,” McMaster said. This is why the recommendations became mandatory, he added.

For retail stores that remain open, McMaster issued a mandatory order that customers must be limited to no more than five for every 1,000 square feet.

A violation of the order is a misdemeanor that carries 30 days and/or a $100 fine for each day of violation.

McMaster said according to the data, science, facts and the experts, it is now time to make the recommended actions required.

The rate of infection is on the rise and noncompliance is on the rise, he said. “We hope this order today will reduce the rise of infection.”

Also, the state General Assembly was ordered to work on Wednesday.

For churches on Easter, McMaster urged them to stream on the internet or meet outdoors.

Gov. McMaster issues ‘home or work order,’ limits customers for retail businesses

 

[Rose in SC]

SOUTH CAROLINA
Update - Tuesday, April 7 - 4:02pm

2,417 positive cases (+185)
51 deaths (+3)

Total negative tests - 21,263
Total positive tests - 2,417
Total number of tests performed in South Carolina - 23,680

Testing & SC Data (COVID-19) | SCDHEC

STAY AT HOME ORDER (sort of?)
Governor McMaster's executive order, which he calls a “home or work order” is a mandate that states: “All South Carolinians must remain at home or work unless visiting family, exercising, or obtaining essential goods or services.” It goes into effect today at 5pm.

Those who disobey the order can face a misdemeanor criminal charge with up to 30 days in jail and/or $100 fine for each day of violation.