Myrtle Beach doesn’t have ‘adequate’ coronavirus testing resources, leaders say
Myrtle Beach officials say there aren’t enough coronavirus testing resources in the area, as health professionals cite the lack of testing could be producing inaccurate data, providing a false sense of security.
As COVID-19 continues to spread in Horry County, along with the news that S.C. Governor Henry McMaster is expected to call for public beach access and certain retail stores to re-open statewide, Myrtle Beach City Council held an emergency meeting with health and epidemiology experts via conference call to discuss the current state of the respiratory disease as cases continue to rise.
On the call, the city’s emergency manager Bruce Arnel said that while there’s been no reported bed shortages in any area hospitals and personal protective equipment remains steady, testing for the coronavirus remains problematic.
“We do not have adequate testing resources in our area,” Arnel said.
As of Sunday afternoon, Horry County has 185 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 12 deaths, according to the South Carolina Department and Environmental Control. Georgetown County has 33 total cases and remained at two overall deaths as of Sunday.
In South Carolina, there’s a total of 4,377 cases and 120 deaths.
Despite Arnel saying nine rapid-testing machines, made by Abbot Laboratories, were deployed to Myrtle Beach, DHEC officials disputed that claim, citing regions throughout South Carolina with a high number of positive cases and residents with underlying health conditions, not including Horry or Georgetown counties, that were sent 15 machines.
According to DHEC, additional machines and testing supplies have been ordered but there’s no timeline on when they will be deployed, adding that the CDC will determine where and when additional supplies will be distributed.
Debbie Borst, an infectious control nurse for the Myrtle Beach area, added that Horry County also doesn’t have drive-thru testing available unlike other areas in South Carolina. She issued concern with the absence of adequate testing kits, explaining that it’s difficult to know the contagion cycle of the virus if the public isn’t being tested.
“That’s the major problematic issue right now is lack of testing, so therefore are our numbers really accurate?” Borst questioned. “The public hears one thing but they don’t realize we don’t have testing available like other cities and states, so I’m worried that they have a false sense of security concerning our numbers and thinking that things could be on the uptick or we could be over the peak when really I’m not sure we’ve had a peak yet.”
Dr. Edward Schwartz, Chief Medical Officer with CareHere, also noted that up to 30 percent of coronavirus tests provide a false negative result. He advised the City of Myrtle Beach should consider relaxing some restrictions only when they can show there’s enough testing supplies, hospital space and personal protective equipment available in the event of an uptick in confirmed cases.
Currently, area hospitals are at 52 percent capacity, according to Arnel.
“I think the biggest question that comes up is at what point do we peak and then once the peak occurs, how many individuals in the community are exposed,” Schwartz said.
“Current estimates are 5 percent of the community will be exposed during this first wave, with the fear that once you open the communities back up, there will be a resurgence and what does that look like, and again that’s the importance for us being prepared with testing to take care of those individuals.”
Schwartz stressed that the virus is not expected to just go away, and at some point everyone will be exposed to it.
Beaches across South Carolina have been closed since March because of the coronavirus pandemic. But McMaster is expected this week to lay out details of his economic recovery plan, which he’s calling “Accelerate SC” and would involve reopening beaches and lifting restrictions on some retail stores, including clothing, furniture and jewelry stores.
Public docks and boat landings were reopened in South Carolina on Friday.
Rep. Alan Clemmons said on the call he pushed for McMaster to re-open the beach access for locals only. He said it would be prudent for city officials to consider reasonable restrictions if they chose to comply with the Governor if the order is made.
South Carolina wouldn’t be the first state to loosen its coronavirus restrictions on beaches. On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gave municipalities the go-ahead to open beaches. Texas also is relaxing some stay-at-home orders.
Yet in South Carolina, the number of COVID-19 cases statewide is expected to keep climbing, with a peak around May 2.
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 1:03 PM.
