Coronavirus live updates May 31: Folks protest in Myrtle Beach as COVID-19 remains threat
The night after fires and looting once again stole the headlines in major U.S. cities, Myrtle Beach held a protest Sunday morning that appeared void of any such lawlessness.
Several citizens took to the streets to march from Ocean Boulevard to the Myrtle Beach Police Station on Mr. Joe White Avenue to show their disgust with the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota last week. People held signs and chanted several phrases during the event.
While Floyd’s death and the protests accompanying it have taken over the nation, coronavirus still looms large across the United States and the world.
Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Myrtle Beach area May 31.
The number of coronavirus cases in Horry County and the Myrtle Beach area rose by seven cases Saturday.
The county’s total rose to 417 total cases. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control released the latest data on Monday afternoon.
Horry County’s death total remained at 25.
Georgetown County rose to 73 cases, and remained at three overall deaths as of Saturday.
In South Carolina, there were 266 new COVID-19 cases Saturday with four more deaths, bringing the totals to 11,394 cases and 487 deaths.
Today’s takeaways
Myrtle Beach police took a wanted man into custody on Saturday at Sam’s Club on Saturday afternoon. Around 4:30 p.m., Myrtle Beach police responded to the Sam’s Club near Mr. Joe White Avenue and Seaboard Street. Myrtle Police Cpl. Thomas Vest said the man was wanted for a violent crime in another area.
Julian Betton, a man who was shot many times by Myrtle Beach police several years ago, leading to a lawsuit in which he settled for millions of dollars, was supposed to break his silence at 1 p.m. today at city hall. Instead, he canceled after meeting with Myrtle Beach city leaders, his attorney, Jonny McCoy, announced on his Facebook page.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster will be holding a media briefing with law enforcement officials at 1 p.m. today at the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center in Columbia a day after dozens were arrested in the state capital as protests turned violent.
Wash your hands & weekend weather
Here is your daily reminder to wash your hands and practice social distancing. Health officials recommend washing your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Social distancing guidelines are still in place, and health officials ask people to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from others.
The National Weather Service is calling for chances of rain and thunderstorms this weekend in the Myrtle Beach area. The area is forecast to have high temperatures around 80 degrees.
This story was originally published May 31, 2020 at 11:05 AM.
