Visits to Myrtle Beach causing ‘small spikes’ in New Jersey, state’s governor tells MSNBC
New Jersey is the latest state to see a spike in coronavirus cases after its residents visited Myrtle Beach, according to Gov. Phil Murphy.
In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Murphy called for a national mask rule while also noting that his state is seeing a spike as some residents return home from beach cities like Myrtle Beach, SC.
“We’re starting to see small spikes in reinfection from folks coming back from places like Myrtle Beach, as well as in Florida, other hot spots,” Murphy said. “To me it says we need a national strategy. We’re only as strong as our weakest link right now.”
Murphy also noted that as a state, New Jersey “went through hell. We cannot afford to go through hell again.”
Photos and livestreams showing Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach on the Fourth of July holiday revealed packed beaches ahead of a night full of fireworks put on by citizens after most organized firework displays were canceled.
Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune appeared on CNN’s “The Situation Room” on Friday, saying the city is “doing all that we can” prevent the virus’ spread while noting the passing of the mask ordinance.
“People spread this virus and we can’t stop people from coming here but we all have personal responsibility in helping to prevent the spread of this virus,” Bethune said.
New Jersey joins a list of states, including West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, to report coronavirus cases tied back to trips to South Carolina.
Last week, the City of Myrtle Beach, the City of North Myrtle Beach and Georgetown County were the first areas along the Grand Strand to pass mandatory face masks ordinances. Horry County Council voted to follow suit Friday evening.
The new ordinances come as cases in the Horry County and Myrtle Beach areas continue to soar, with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announcing new cases daily in the triple digits.
Horry County saw 159 new cases Sunday, following a record daily total of 358 on the Fourth of July. For the last week, the Myrtle Beach area had 1,495 total COVID-19 cases. Horry County has had 54 total deaths from the disease.
In Georgetown County, there have been 658 confirmed cases and five deaths. In South Carolina overall, there have been 44,717 cases and 813 deaths from the virus, according to DHEC.
