Latest DHEC numbers: Coronavirus cases exceed 300 in Horry County, Myrtle Beach area
Four more coronavirus cases have been confirmed and one more death was reported in the Myrtle Beach area on Tuesday, according to the latest information from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
There are now 303 positive COVID-19 cases in Horry County, with 20 deaths reported. The latest death was a middle-aged individual, according to DHEC.
Georgetown County has 52 confirmed cases and three deaths reported, as South Carolina’s total rises to 9,056 confirmed cases and 399 deaths from COVID-19. Statewide about 84 percent of people who tested positive from coronavirus have recovered.
Free, widespread coronavirus testing is coming to Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties as state public health officials look to ramp up testing across South Carolina. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is teaming up with Tidelands Health to offer free COVID-19 tests.
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans Stadium and Coastal Carolina University will be used as clinic locations. Additional testing locations across the region and when the clinics will open will be announced soon once DHEC approves additional facilities.
Clinics should be operational by next week. By the end of June the goal is to test 8,000 people in the Pee Dee region, or two percent of the population.
Health officials are still encouraging people to practice social distancing when they are out. That includes wearing masks and to frequently wash your hands. To learn more about coronavirus cases, the virus itself and how to prevent it spreading, visit DHEC’s website.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 4:03 PM.
