Coronavirus live updates May 17: Hustle and bustle returns to the Myrtle Beach area
Tourist destinations across the Grand Strand were nearly deserted one month ago, but that is the opposite for beaches, traffic and popular destinations like the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk this weekend.
As restrictions have lifted over the last two weeks, restaurants and beaches were packed with crowds Saturday.
Another wave of restrictions will be lifted Monday, allowing pools, salons, tattoo services and gyms to reopen.
Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Myrtle Beach area May 17.
The number of coronavirus cases has reached 293 in Horry County since mid-March, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The county has had 18 coronavirus-related deaths, DHEC reports.
In Georgetown County, there are 52 COVID-19 cases and the county has had three deaths.
Cases across South Carolina have surpassed 8,600, with 380 deaths, DHEC records show.
Today’s takeaways:
Coast RTA will resume full service Monday, and recommends all riders wear face coverings and stay home if they are not feeling well.
- Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner, and it may look different this year in the Myrtle Beach area due to the coronavirus. Here’s what to expect.
- Indoor dining services at restaurants reopened this past week. “I’m happy from one point to open, but from another, I’m concerned. Me, as an owner, I have full responsibility about what happens and if tomorrow God forbid something happens,” a restaurant owner said. “We’re using as much precautions as possible.”
- Here’s a guide on what is open, what will open this week, and what remains closed in the Myrtle Beach area.
- In case you missed it: A drive-up testing facility could come to Coastal Carolina University’s campus next month. And some area hospitals are still testing hundreds of people weekly for COVID-19.
Wash your hands
Here’s your daily reminder to wash your hands and practice social distancing. Though many public areas are reopening, health officials still recommend following social distancing guidelines. Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published May 17, 2020 at 12:39 PM.
