Coronavirus live updates July 23: Four more deaths confirmed in Horry, Myrtle Beach
State health officials confirmed 92 new COVID-19 cases Thursday along with four additional deaths in Horry County.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reports a total of 7,174 positive coronavirus cases in Horry County since mid-March. There have also been 97 deaths due to the coronavirus in the county.
All four deaths were people older than 65, according to DHEC, and the deaths occurred Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The department’s Thursday news release only lists 80 new COVID-19 cases in the county, but their map shows a jump of 92 cases since Wednesday, and a DHEC spokesperson has previously told The Sun News that the map is a more accurate representation of case totals.
Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Myrtle Beach area today.
While daily case totals remain high in the Myrtle Beach area, the weekly total reported in the county has actually declined for two consecutive weeks for the first time since April, according to DHEC data. The 926 cases confirmed last week still represents the third highest weekly total in Horry.
It’s unknown if the slight dip in new cases also means a lower percentage of people getting tested are receiving positive results because DHEC doesn’t currently provide testing data by county.
Data provided by DHEC in conjunction with the S.C. Department of Education tracking virus activity in each county that will be used to determine when students can return to in-person learning shows 22.8 percent of those being tested in Horry the past two weeks are positive, which is a slight decrease from last week’s update.
Statewide, 7,360 people were tested yesterday, and 20.9 percent of those tested positive, DHEC data shows.
The new case totals beginning to drop comes after most local cities and Horry County imposed mandatory face mask orders. A DHEC spokesperson told The Sun News that they’re closely monitoring data trends in areas with local mask ordinances, but it will take several weeks before any definitive trends can be established.
Broken down by zip code, there was a reduction or no change last week in new cases within 15 of 16 zip codes in the county.
The only zip code with a weekly increase was 29544, one of the lowest populated areas in the county located between Aynor and Galivants Ferry, which increased from 14 new cases to 17.
Cases in Georgetown County have reached 1,049, with 13 deaths reported, according to DHEC.
COVID-19 cases in South Carolina have totaled 76,315, DHEC reports. There have been 1,294 virus-related deaths in the state. As of Monday, DHEC reports an 87% recovery rate.
Today’s takeaways:
- In case you missed it: Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head have ramped up marketing efforts to draw in tourists despite the spread of coronavirus in both areas.
- As for high school sports in South Carolina, a decision that could impact when seasons start has been delayed. Here’s the latest.
Wash your hands & wear a mask
Here is a daily reminder to wash your hands often, wear a mask and practice social distancing.
DHEC asks people to wear a mask when visiting public places and practice social distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. It is now mandatory to wear face masks in certain public areas in unincorporated Horry County, the City of Myrtle Beach, the City of North Myrtle Beach and Georgetown County.
Health officials say washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published July 23, 2020 at 2:16 PM.
