Latest: Horry County, Myrtle Beach area see another rise in coronavirus cases
Five more coronavirus cases have been confirmed 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 382 positive COVID-19 cases in Horry County, with 22 deaths reported. There were no deaths reported Tuesday.
Georgetown County has 71 confirmed cases with two new cases Tuesday and three deaths reported, as South Carolina’s total rose to 10,416 confirmed cases with 253 new cases reported Tuesday, including 446 deaths from COVID-19. Statewide about 86 percent of people who tested positive from coronavirus have recovered, according to DHEC.
The recent rise in cases comes after thousands of tourists inundated Myrtle Beach over the past couple weeks once hotels were allowed to accept new reservations. At the onset of the Memorial Day weekend, Horry County had its highest one-day number of cases reported Friday. The daily reported cases have come down considerably over the past four days.
In North Carolina, there are 24,140 confirmed cases and 766 deaths as of Tuesday, including 76 cases and just two deaths in Brunswick County.
DHEC also announced Tuesday that 110,316 tests for COVID-19 have been performed in South Carolina since May 1, which reaches a goal the agency set to test 2 percent of the state’s population, or 110,000 South Carolinians, by May 31.
As part of ongoing efforts to increase testing in underserved and rural communities across the state, DHEC is working with community partners to set up mobile testing clinics . Currently, there are 74 mobile testing events scheduled through July 2 with new testing events added regularly.
Additionally, there are currently 145 permanent testing locations at health care facilities throughout the state.
A total of 178,119 total tests have been conducted in the state by both DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory and private labs since March 5.
DHEC released demographic information on the virus Tuesday. The average age of a COVID-19 patient in the state is 49, the age group 51-60 has the most cases with 17 percent of the total, females account for nearly 56 percent of the cases, and black individuals account for 44 percent of the cases, white individuals 42 percent and hispanic individuals 10 percent.
Additionally, 1,137 healthcare workers in the state have tested positive, while 1,854 positive cases have been confirmed among residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities with 192 resulting in death thus far, according to DHEC.
Health officials are still encouraging people to practice social distancing when they are out, as well as wear masks and frequently wash 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 26, 2020 at 4:16 PM.
