Coronavirus live updates June 11: More cases confirmed in Horry, Myrtle Beach area
Confirmed cases of the coronavirus climbed by 46 in Horry County Thursday, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The county, now considered a hot spot for COVID-19, has had 849 virus cases since mid-March, DHEC reports. There have been 33 coronavirus-related deaths in Horry County.
A DHEC news release Thursday indicated there were 47 new cases identified in Horry County, but the data on their map showed the cases jump from 803 Wednesday.
“The numbers are expected to fluctuate from time to time as we find new information about positive cases,” according to a DHEC spokesperson. “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.”
Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Myrtle Beach area June 11.
Virus cases announced in a single day in Horry County reached a record high Wednesday, with DHEC announcing 83 new cases. There have been more cases announced so far this week than last week, which was already a record high. More than half of all the confirmed cases in the county have been reported during the past two weeks.
In Georgetown County, cases have risen to 117, with three virus-related deaths, DHEC reports.
Cases across South Carolina have reached more than 16,441, including a record 687 confirmed Thursday, and there have been 588 deaths.
State officials warned in early May when they announced increased testing availability that case numbers would likely increase, but they also stated that the percentage of positive tests should decrease, and that hasn’t happened.
A total of 4,791 COVID-19 tests were performed yesterday statewide, and 14.3 percent tested positive, according to DHEC. Testing data for Horry County specifically is not available because DHEC does not track that.
In total, 265,351 tests have been administered in South Carolina, though DHEC noted in its news release Thursday that figure includes about 27,600 antibody tests, which could indicate someone previously had the virus. The state agency did not include positive antibody tests in its reporting of positive cases, but has included them in testing data, which “slightly decreased the percent positive.”
Today’s takeaways:
- Summertime and Fourth of July firework displays along the Grand Strand are being postponed or canceled. Here’s what we know.
- The City of Conway’s sports center has canceled its summer program after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
- In case you missed it: “People aren’t following the guidelines”: How Myrtle Beach became a COVID-19 hot spot
Wash your hands & wear a face mask
Health officials continue to urge people to wear face masks, practice social distancing and wash their hands often.
“There is rapidly growing medical evidence that the use of face masks along with social distancing can greatly reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus in public spaces,” DHEC said in a statement issued this week, “and places where people at higher risk of severe illness and death from this virus are likely to be present. We must all commit to wearing face masks in public spaces — if we all wear them, we’ll all be protected.”
Washing your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water can help prevent the spread of the virus, health officials say. It’s important to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 4:04 PM.
