Coronavirus live updates June 4: New cases confirmed in Horry County, Myrtle Beach area
Seventeen new cases of the coronavirus were announced in Horry County as of Thursday afternoon.
The county has had 506 cases of the virus since mid-March and 28 deaths due to the virus, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
DHEC only reported 14 new cases Thursday in the county in its daily press release, but the number reported on its testing map increased by 17 from Wednesday.
According to a DHEC spokesperson: “The numbers are expected to fluctuate from time to time as we find new information about positive cases. Our news releases provide the most current information for that time and day about individual cases and deaths, but sometimes that information changes as we learn more information during our follow-up investigations. Our online map will always be the best source for the most current and accurate numbers.
“The address on driver’s licenses are usually how an individual’s primary residence is initially reported to us by way of their health care professional, and through our follow-up investigations, we find out that a person moved and never updated the address on their driver’s license, or that they never got a S.C. driver’s license when they moved into the state, etc., which affects our reported numbers that are based on county of primary residence.”
State officials have warned that case numbers will increase as more COVID-19 testing has been made available, including a Tidelands free community clinic hosted at the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Stadium last weekend.
More than 1,000 people were tested, likely contributing to higher case counts, including five consecutive days of DHEC confirming double-digit new cases in the Myrtle Beach area.
COVID-19 cases in Georgetown County are at 79, with three virus-related deaths, DHEC reports.
Across South Carolina, cases of the virus have reached 13,005 and 525 deaths have been reported due to the virus.
As of June 3, a total of 238,808 tests have been conducted in the state, including 6,558 on Wednesday. DHEC does not provide information on testing by county.
Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Myrtle Beach area June 4.
Today’s takeaways:
- In case you missed it: The Sun News chronicled the experiences of Myrtle Beach area locals and what they have gone through during the coronavirus pandemic. Here are their stories.
- Here’s how the coronavirus has impacted addiction recovery in Horry County.
- The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk has postponed its Fourth of July festivities due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Wash your hands
This is your daily reminder to wash your hands often and practice social distancing. Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, health officials say. It’s important to not touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, experts warn. Social distancing guidelines are still in place.
Here are more tips on how to protect yourself and others.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 3:22 PM.
