Coronavirus live updates for April 4: Where Horry County’s more than 50 cases are located
Horry County begins the weekend with 51 confirmed cases of coronavirus, including four deaths.
And on Friday we learned where those cases are concentrated by zip code.
Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Myrtle Beach area for April 4.
Garden City/Murrells Inlet zip code 29576 has the most confirmed coronavirus cases in Horry County with nine, according to statistics released Friday by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The zip code also includes the Burgess area.
Conway zip code 29527 had the second-highest confirmed cases with eight, while 29588, which includes Socastee, Forestbrook and Red Hill came in third with seven. Conway zip code 29526 and Myrtle Beach/Socastee zip code 29577 each had five, while all other Horry County zip code areas were below that number.
Four Horry County zip codes — 29544, 29572, 29579 and 29581 — had no confirmed cases listed.
Cases across South Carolina have reached at least 1,700, according to DHEC, with 34 deaths.
Who can stay?
Myrtle Beach clarified which owners of hotel/condotel units can reside in their rooms while emergency orders are in place, which for now go through April 30.
Emergency Order 3C clarifies that individuals who own and use the units as a year-round primary residence can remain there throughout the emergency order, as can owners who use a unit exclusively as a second home and not as a rental property in any way.
The amendment states that any unit used for rental purposes in any way cannot be used by a property owner during the emergency order.
More closures
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster on Friday ordered more non-essential businesses to close including florists, department stores and those that sell furniture, jewelry, clothing, shoes, sporting goods, books, arts and crafts, music and home furnishings. He also increased restrictions on short-term rentals, but the suspension of short-term rentals with limited exceptions has already been enacted in Horry and Georgetown counties.
McMaster said the order does not include hardware stores, firearm retailers, or home improvement retailers.
The new closures go into effect 5 p.m. Monday.
Unemployment soars
Horry County, where tourism is the main economic driver, led the state in unemployment claims filed with 9,672 seeking benefits in the last week.
The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce saw a 3,000 percent increase in claims filed since before the pandemic. Residents can expect their benefits to arrive in seven to 14 days after filing, according to DEW Spokesperson Heather Biance. The application to apply for benefits can be found online. If you do not have internet access, you must call 1-866-831-1724.
Home away from home
With campgrounds and RV parks closed on the Grand Strand, some people traveling through the Myrtle Beach area have been parking their RVs in large parking lots including at Broadway at the Beach and Walmart.
Wash your hands
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and use hand sanitizer in place of soap when needed. Health officials also urge people to practice social distancing, staying 6 feet from the nearest person.
This story was originally published April 4, 2020 at 11:05 AM.
