Coronavirus live updates Sept. 1: Three more COVID-19 deaths reported in Horry County
Health officials reported 21 coronavirus cases in Horry County Tuesday and three more people have died of the virus, health officials announced.
In total, positive tests have reached 9,308 in the county since the beginning of the pandemic in mid-March and 177 people have died from COVID-19, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The majority of the county’s cases have been reported since June, but the spread has slowed since municipalities began requiring masks in early July.
All three deaths occurred in elderly individuals, according to DHEC.
Here are the latest updates in the Myrtle Beach area Sept. 1
Georgetown County has reported 1,686 positive cases and 36 virus-related deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
South Carolina cases grew by 636 Monday, bringing the state’s total to 118,116. Across the state, 2,626 people have died of the virus. As of Monday, a total of 1,018,379 tests have been conducted in the state.
DHEC announced on Tuesday new guidelines for limited outdoor visitation at nursing homes and community residential care facilities, also called assisted living facilities.
Visitation will be determined on a number of factors, including but not limited to existing cases of the virus within the facility, staffing, PPE availability and the facilities ability to comply with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services testing requirements.
“We understand how difficult it has been during these past few months for friends and families to be distanced from their loved ones who reside in nursing homes and similar facilities, but we believe the visitation restrictions put in place have helped save lives and have helped protect the health and wellbeing of the dedicated workers who care for these residents,” said Marshall Taylor, Acting Director of DHEC, in a release.
Each nursing home and assisted living facility will need a reasonable amount of time in order to meet the criteria outlined in these guidelines, meaning outdoor visitation will not be immediately available. South Carolinians are encouraged to coordinate directly with facilities to determine when visitation may be permitted and to coordinate visits when possible.
DHEC also recommends that these guidelines be used by intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
“Our first priority when developing these guidelines was to protect both the physical and mental health of our loved ones who call nursing homes and assisted living facilities their home,” Dr. Joan Duwve, DHEC Public Health Director, said in release. “As we are all too aware, these vulnerable individuals are among those at highest risk for developing life-threatening and life-taking complications from COVID-19.
Today’s takeaways:
From just feet away from where Nick Wall and Laura Anderson were gunned down after a fender-bender, dozens gathered to remember the two who lit up a room. The site of the shooting is outside of Andrews in Georgetown County, South Carolina. Read more about it here.
It’s been a week since Paul McConnell was wounded and two others were killed in a shooting after a fender-bender in rural South Carolina. The physical wounds are improving with each day, but he admits his thoughts about the ordeal are still scattered.
Horry County police arrested a man accused of shooting and killing a person in the Forestbrook area. Read more here.
Horry County Schools students will return to in-person classes next week when the school year begins.
The Pawleys Island mayor has received threats for boycott after he called the Black Lives Matter movement a terror organization.
Traveling to Myrtle Beach for Labor Day weekend? Here’s what you need to know.
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.
