Coronavirus live updates Aug. 28: Horry County reports fewer than 20 new cases
Health officials reported 19 more cases of the coronavirus and one more virus-related death in Horry County Friday.
Since the beginning of the pandemic in mid-March, the county has reached 9,175 positive tests and 169 people have died of the virus, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The majority of the cases have been reported since June, but the increase in cases has slowed since people in the area have been required to wear masks in public.
DHEC’s daily news release lists 16 new coronavirus cases in the county, but the department’s map, which officials have described as a more accurate depiction of total cases at a given time, jumped by 19 from Thursday. The release also does not list an additional death in Horry County, but the number of deaths on the map increased by one from Thursday’s level.
Horry County has been identified as having a “moderate” incidence rate over the past two weeks, meaning between 101-200 people per 100,000 have reported a positive test, according to DHEC. South Carolina has an incidence rate of 210 per 100,000 residents.
Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Myrtle Beach area Aug. 28:
Georgetown County has reached 1,659 COVID-19 cases and 36 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, DHEC reports.
South Carolina has reported 114,400 coronavirus cases and 2,521 people in the state have died of the virus, according to DHEC. More than 980,800 people had been tested for the virus across the state as of Monday night, DHEC reports.
Of the 5,751 tests reported to DHEC Thursday, 15.7 percent were positive.
Today’s takeaways:
- Horry County is opening new polling sites for absentee voting. Find out where here.
- Police arrested a man who they say tried to run them over in his car. Find out more here.
- Sending your child back to school? In Horry County here’s what schools will look like.
Wash your hands & wear a mask
This is your 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 your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 1:53 PM.
