Horry County adds nearly 40 coronavirus cases Friday. CCU infection rate drops
The Myrtle Beach area added another 39 COVID-19 cases Friday to its total count in the latest update from South Carolina health officials.
Horry County now has a total of 9,961 cases since the pandemic started in mid-March, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
There have also been a total of 185 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the Myrtle Beach area.
Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Myrtle Beach area Sept. 25:
Health officials have performed 87,639 COVID-19 tests in Horry County, with about 15.9 percent of tests coming back positive, according to DHEC data. There have been 827 hospitalizations in Horry County. The oldest person hospitalized with coronavirus is 99 years old.
Georgetown County’s confirmed coronavirus case total now sits at 1,756 and 36 deaths.
In South Carolina, there were 647 new confirmed cases and 20 confirmed deaths as a result of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of positive cases to 140,056 and confirmed deaths in the state to 3,114. The state has another 3,846 probable cases and 183 probable deaths due to the virus.
Cases drop at CCU
The number of positive coronavirus cases at Coastal Carolina University decreased compared to the previous week for the first time in four weeks.
The school announced 27 new cases Friday in the week from Sept. 17-23, all among students.
After announcing just three cases for the week of Aug. 20-26 – weekly test numbers are through 5 p.m. Wednesdays – the cases increased to 56 on Sept. 2, 61 on Sept. 9, and 82 on Sept. 16 before the precipitous drop this week.
The university has registered a total of 292 cases, including 269 among students, since testing began on June 8 when athletes began returning to campus for workouts.
CCU also reported 39 students in isolation for positive tests and 72 in quarantine through contact tracing on Wednesday, which was down from 81 in isolation and 150 in quarantine last week.
The positive test results are the combined totals of all university symptomatic testing – the general student population is being tested only when students request a test because they are symptomatic – regular surveillance testing results of student-athletes per NCAA guidelines, including at least weekly testing for in-season athletes, and positive test results reported by students, employees, and school affiliates.
Coastal is leasing off-campus housing properties in four-month increments to isolate students who have tested positive.
The fall semester began on Aug. 19 with online classes and in-person classes on campus began Sept. 8, though students have the option of either form of learning until the Thanksgiving break.
Approximatley 3,800 students moved into university housing between Aug. 12 and Sept. 4, according to CCU vice president for auxiliary services Steve Harrison, with the bulk of them moving in between Aug. 12-16 and the second wave arriving on Sept. 3-4.
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 September 25, 2020 at 2:33 PM.
