What coronavirus? College students flood Myrtle Beach to party as COVID-19 spreads
With government officials urging folks to take caution and self-quarantine as the coronavirus continues to spread globally, more than 100 college students flooded the beach in Myrtle Beach on Thursday looking to have a good time, dismissing any panic currently ensuing.
Zach Brenneman, a Coastal Carolina student from Cumberland, Maryland, estimates the gathering was 85 to 90 percent current or former CCU students. Coastal has extended its spring break until Monday, and classes will be held only online for the remainder of the semester.
The students sprawled out along the beach near 65th Avenue North either throwing a football, sunbathing, swimming or playing beer pong and beer die. Many said, despite the news that Horry County’s confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased to six, they shouldn’t be cooped up in their homes on a beautiful day.
“It’s very unfortunate the coronavirus is going on, but like, we’re all here and we’re still having a good time; classes got canceled, our jobs got canceled and I work full time, so what else am I supposed to do,” CCU student Madelyn Long, 22, said. “It does suck that this virus is taking over, but we’re gonna still hang out, we’re still going to enjoy our time.”
The area of 65th Avenue North has become a beach party spot for CCU students over the years, and Thursday’s beach party grew as people shared it on social media.
Long, who just came back from a Carnival Cruise last week, said that she was shocked there were so many people at the beach but added she didn’t feel it necessary to self-isolate in the event she caught the novel virus.
“I’m not going to do that,” she said.
With no vaccine to prevent the respiratory virus that is mainly spread from person-to-person, The Center for Disease Control is asking people to limit their social interactions, distance themselves at least six feet from one another, wash their hands and do whatever they can to keep this disease from spreading.
Restaurants and bars in South Carolina are dine-in or takeout only and closed to dine-in customers. The state, Horry County, Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas have also declared state of emergencies.
As of Thursday afternoon, the total known confirmed cases in Horry County of COVID-19 increased to six since the first case was announced on Sunday. Currently, no deaths have been reported in any known patients in Horry County, but there has been one confirmed coronavirus-related death in South Carolina.
Across the state there were 81 confirmed cases as of Thursday afternoon as officials work to test more people who may have contracted the virus.
Despite that, CCU student Maddie Noakes, 20, feels state and county officials haven’t taken the virus seriously, noting how they’ve been behind the curve in canceling school and closing down restaurants. Justice Hayes, 20, felt the same, explaining that her hometown in Boston went into action to ensure the safety of its residents much quicker.
“I feel like Coastal hasn’t really been taking it that serious,” Noakes said. “I feel like the state hasn’t taken it that serious, so we’re still here.”
Brenneman expressed little concern for the coronavirus or his own health. “We’re concerned but I feel like we’re healthy and can treat it like the normal cold,” Brenneman said. “Hopefully my immune system is up for the challenge. … At some point I think we’re going to all end up getting it.”
Alex Degenstein, a CCU junior from North Dakota, said his primary concern was possibly transferring the virus to his older relatives, but he didn’t expect to see them any time soon.
“My only concern is not wanting to visit my grandparents,” Degenstein said.
Area resident Carl Michael, who lives on 65th Ave. North, said he collected four grocery bags full of empty bottles, cans and sunscreen containers from the beach after the partygoers left at low tide, trash he believes would have been washed into the ocean as the tide came in.
With other tourist destinations, such as Miami and Tampa, Florida, closing its beaches to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, Governor Henry McMaster said in a news conference on Thursday that South Carolina beaches would remain open but is “watching that carefully.”
“Nothing is off the table,” McMaster said. “We don’t want to go too far too soon, but we’re intent on staying ahead of this virus.”
On Friday, McMaster tweeted, “To save lives, I have directed SLED and local law enforcement to disperse crowds on our state’s beaches. Coastal residents can responsibly maintain social distance while enjoying our state’s beaches.”
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 7:03 PM.
