South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has no intention of restricting businesses in South Carolina after a spike in confirmed cases of coronavirus.WYFF News 4’s Amanda Crawford reached out the governor’s office after the recent spike in cases statewide.”The governor has no intention of reinstating restrictions on businesses,” Communications Director Brian Symmes said. “Every time he’s made a decision to lift restrictions, it was accompanied by guidelines for businesses to follow that will help protect South Carolinians. With those recommended guidelines still in place, there’s no reason to close businesses again.”As of Tuesday, South Carolina reported 15,228 cases and 568 deaths. The Department of Health and Environmental Control had tested 256,710 people as of Tuesday with 23,956 of those tests being positive. WYFF News 4 Investigates is tracking cases reported, deaths, hospitalizations and testing across South Carolina.On May 10, the seven-day moving average of daily cases reported in the state was 146. The figure more than doubled by June 3, and a week later hit its highest level ever – 408.3 See chart below or mobile users click here to see chart).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The 2,222 cases reported in Greenville County is the highest rate for any county in the state, though 14 other counties have a higher case rate when compared to population.The other nine Upstate counties have a total of 1,857 cases reported combined (See chart below or mobile users click here to see chart).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 seven-day moving average of people who have died sits at 9.6 deaths reported per day. The average was 9 per day on May 9. It dipped to 5.6 on May 22.The seven-day moving average of people hospitalized with a confirmed case of coronavirus or a case that is under investigation is at its highest level since DHEC started reporting the figure. On average, more than 482 have been hospitalized over the last week, compared to 408 in the week leading up to June 2. The average has increased each day since. It was at 341 on May 5 (See chart below or mobile users click here to see chart).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While the positive cases reported compared to tests completed was in steady decline from April 29 to June 3, that figure has now risen each of the last four days – meaning a higher share of positive cases are being reported compared to the number of tests done. (See chart below or mobile users click here to see chart)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”South Carolinians have collectively learned about this virus – we know more now about how it spreads and how to protect ourselves from it than we did two or three months ago,” Symmes said. “The governor continues to urge South Carolinians to listen to and follow the advice and recommendations of our public health experts because the virus is still here, it’s still contagious, and it is still dangerous.”Find a testing site near you | Full report on testing data from DHECGreenville Mayor concernedGreenville Mayor Knox White says he is very concerned about the spike in coronavirus cases, especially in our area.On Friday, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control designated Greenville a hot spot for coronavirus.”A core purpose of our statewide testing strategy is to help identify hot spots, and it’s working,” Dr. Brannon Traxler with DHEC said. “Through expanded testing efforts, we’ve been able to identify Greenville as a current hot spot in the state, where the number of daily cases has been increased for the past week.”Knox said while he is concerned, municipalities are limited in their ability to act outside the governor’s order.White will host a briefing Thursday with DHEC, Prisma, Bon Secours and Greenville County Emergency Management to offer a public plea for continued social distance, facial covering, hand-washing and frequent cleaning.’Wear a mask’ and ‘social distance’: SC public health officials issue joint statementOn Tuesday, DHEC, South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA), South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA) and South Carolina Office of Rural Health (SCORH) released a statement urging people to wear a mask and practice social distancing.“DHEC, SCHA, SCMA and SCORH have come together to strongly urge all South Carolinians to actively help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save the lives of our fellow residents by practicing physical social distancing and properly using face masks.”There is rapidly growing medical evidence that the use of face masks along with social distancing can greatly reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus in public spaces and places where people at higher risk of severe illness and death from this virus are likely to be present. We must all commit to wearing face masks in public spaces — if we all wear them, we’ll all be protected.”Since the beginning of this public health crisis, our organizations jointly committed to protect the health and welfare of all South Carolinians throughout this pandemic. We’re calling on you for your continued help.”Please join the leaders and staff of DHEC, SCHA, SCMA and SCORH and the physicians and hospital systems we represent in protecting the lives of all South Carolinians by wearing face masks in confined public settings and maintaining at least 6 feet between those who are not members of your household.”Together, we can turn the tide on the COVID-19 pandemic and save lives in South Carolina.”The joint statement follows recently updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) that clearly emphasizes the importance of face masks and social distancing in preventing the spread of COVID-19.Additional coronavirus resources:Tracking COVID-19 curve of cases, deaths in the Carolinas, GeorgiaLatest update on coronavirus cases, latest headlines in Carolinas, GeorgiaCOVID-19 maps of Carolinas, Georgia: Latest coronavirus cases by countySign up for WYFF News 4 coronavirus daily newsletter**Total positive tests is different than the total number of positive cases in the state. The number of cases is the number of distinct individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. Some of those individuals may have been tested multiple times for various reasons, and the total positive tests captures all of the positive tests results in the state. One positive case may have been tested multiple times, with potentially multiple positive results.
GREENVILLE, S.C. —
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has no intention of restricting businesses in South Carolina after a spike in confirmed cases of coronavirus.
WYFF News 4’s Amanda Crawford reached out the governor’s office after the recent spike in cases statewide.
“The governor has no intention of reinstating restrictions on businesses,” Communications Director Brian Symmes said. “Every time he’s made a decision to lift restrictions, it was accompanied by guidelines for businesses to follow that will help protect South Carolinians. With those recommended guidelines still in place, there’s no reason to close businesses again.”
As of Tuesday, South Carolina reported 15,228 cases and 568 deaths. The Department of Health and Environmental Control had tested 256,710 people as of Tuesday with 23,956 of those tests being positive.
WYFF News 4 Investigates is tracking cases reported, deaths, hospitalizations and testing across South Carolina.
On May 10, the seven-day moving average of daily cases reported in the state was 146. The figure more than doubled by June 3, and a week later hit its highest level ever – 408.3 See chart below or mobile users click here to see chart).
The 2,222 cases reported in Greenville County is the highest rate for any county in the state, though 14 other counties have a higher case rate when compared to population.
The other nine Upstate counties have a total of 1,857 cases reported combined (See chart below or mobile users click here to see chart).
The seven-day moving average of people who have died sits at 9.6 deaths reported per day. The average was 9 per day on May 9. It dipped to 5.6 on May 22.
The seven-day moving average of people hospitalized with a confirmed case of coronavirus or a case that is under investigation is at its highest level since DHEC started reporting the figure. On average, more than 482 have been hospitalized over the last week, compared to 408 in the week leading up to June 2. The average has increased each day since. It was at 341 on May 5 (See chart below or mobile users click here to see chart).
While the positive cases reported compared to tests completed was in steady decline from April 29 to June 3, that figure has now risen each of the last four days – meaning a higher share of positive cases are being reported compared to the number of tests done. (See chart below or mobile users click here to see chart)
“South Carolinians have collectively learned about this virus – we know more now about how it spreads and how to protect ourselves from it than we did two or three months ago,” Symmes said. “The governor continues to urge South Carolinians to listen to and follow the advice and recommendations of our public health experts because the virus is still here, it’s still contagious, and it is still dangerous.”
Find a testing site near you | Full report on testing data from DHEC
Greenville Mayor concerned
Greenville Mayor Knox White says he is very concerned about the spike in coronavirus cases, especially in our area.
On Friday, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control designated Greenville a hot spot for coronavirus.
“A core purpose of our statewide testing strategy is to help identify hot spots, and it’s working,” Dr. Brannon Traxler with DHEC said. “Through expanded testing efforts, we’ve been able to identify Greenville as a current hot spot in the state, where the number of daily cases has been increased for the past week.”
Knox said while he is concerned, municipalities are limited in their ability to act outside the governor’s order.
White will host a briefing Thursday with DHEC, Prisma, Bon Secours and Greenville County Emergency Management to offer a public plea for continued social distance, facial covering, hand-washing and frequent cleaning.
‘Wear a mask’ and ‘social distance’: SC public health officials issue joint statement
On Tuesday, DHEC, South Carolina Hospital Association (SCHA), South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA) and South Carolina Office of Rural Health (SCORH) released a statement urging people to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
“DHEC, SCHA, SCMA and SCORH have come together to strongly urge all South Carolinians to actively help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save the lives of our fellow residents by practicing physical social distancing and properly using face masks.
“There is rapidly growing medical evidence that the use of face masks along with social distancing can greatly reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus in public spaces and places where people at higher risk of severe illness and death from this virus are likely to be present. We must all commit to wearing face masks in public spaces — if we all wear them, we’ll all be protected.
“Since the beginning of this public health crisis, our organizations jointly committed to protect the health and welfare of all South Carolinians throughout this pandemic. We’re calling on you for your continued help.
“Please join the leaders and staff of DHEC, SCHA, SCMA and SCORH and the physicians and hospital systems we represent in protecting the lives of all South Carolinians by wearing face masks in confined public settings and maintaining at least 6 feet between those who are not members of your household.
“Together, we can turn the tide on the COVID-19 pandemic and save lives in South Carolina.”
The joint statement follows recently updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) that clearly emphasizes the importance of face masks and social distancing in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Additional coronavirus resources:
- Tracking COVID-19 curve of cases, deaths in the Carolinas, Georgia
- Latest update on coronavirus cases, latest headlines in Carolinas, Georgia
- COVID-19 maps of Carolinas, Georgia: Latest coronavirus cases by county
- Sign up for WYFF News 4 coronavirus daily newsletter
**Total positive tests is different than the total number of positive cases in the state. The number of cases is the number of distinct individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. Some of those individuals may have been tested multiple times for various reasons, and the total positive tests captures all of the positive tests results in the state. One positive case may have been tested multiple times, with potentially multiple positive results.
