Coronavirus updates April 6: Cities across Horry Co. to meet tonight, more stores close
City councils across the county are expected to meet tonight to discuss next steps to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19.
More nonessential businesses have been ordered to close at 5 p.m. today due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Business closures across the Grand Strand include furniture, home furnishing, clothing, jewelry, shoe and clothing accessory, luggage and leather goods, department, florists, sporting goods, bookstores, craft and music stores.
Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Myrtle Beach area for April 6.
As of Monday morning, Horry County has 76 confirmed coronavirus cases, with six deaths, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
South Carolina’s cases have reached at least 2,232 as of Monday. There have been 48 deaths across the state due to the virus, DHEC reports.
Gov. Henry McMaster has also issued a “work-or-home” order for all South Carolina.
Today’s takeaways:
- The City of Myrtle Beach will hold a special meeting tonight where officials will discuss a proposal to take additional steps to protect the health and welfare of residents.
- The City of Conway will meet tonight. Council will vote on a mandatory shelter in place ordinance that would require residents to stay indoors, except for specific reasons deemed necessary.
The S.C. Forestry Commission has declared a “state forester’s” burning ban for all counties beginning 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Atlantic Beach Bikefest will come to a screeching halt as the coronavirus continues to spread throughout Horry County.
The annual event, also known as Black Bike Week, is now postponed to Labor Day weekend. Each year, thousands of bikers spend their Memorial Day weekend partying and riding along the Grand Strand. Bikefest was originally scheduled for May 22-25.
Atlantic Beach Town Council met Monday afternoon to discuss the event and voted unanimously to postpone it. Councilman Lenearl Evans said they’ll continue to monitor the virus when September comes around and determine if the event should still go on.
But coronavirus is taking its toll on the city.
McMaster on Monday further ordered that all residents stay home unless they’re going to work or supporting an essential businesses with proper social distancing. While it was not explicitly called a stay at home order, it still requires most citizens to stay home except for reasons deemed necessary.
Council met in a virtual meeting on Monday to table its own “stay at home” order. City leaders decided they didn’t need their own ordinance but hope residents are listening to the governor’s effort to slow the spread of the virus.
“Lives can be saved,” Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy said.
Myrtle Beach officials are enforcing extra provisions to accompany S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive order telling people to stay at home if they are not working or tending to essential needs to stem the coronavirus outbreak.
City Manager John Pedersen issued two executive orders Monday afternoon mandating that employees engaged in all types of delivery service wear a face mask or similar preventative gear and use hand sanitizer prior to making a delivery to any home or business within city limits.
The second order requires all public transportation drivers, including those with busses, taxis, Ubers and Lyft services, to keep a distance of 6 feet from any passenger. If the size of the vehicle cannot accommodate a 6-foot separation, then the driver must wear a face mask or similar preventative gear and shall instruct the passenger to sit as far away as possible.
Additionally, drivers are advised to use hand sanitizer prior to handling any luggage or other personal possessions of a passenger. Residents are also encouraged to wear face masks upon leaving their homes.
Conway City Council decided an order from Gov. Henry McMaster asking residents to stay home unless they have necessary work is enough to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
Wash your hands & a smile
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, the CDC says.
This guy isn’t worried about a thing. Check out how his quarantine is going:
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 11:51 AM.
