Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Nov. 16
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
27 deaths reported
At least 185,390 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina, and 3,873 have died, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Monday reported 981 new COVID-19 cases, down from 1,339 the day before.
Twenty-seven coronavirus-related deaths were reported Monday, the highest number of confirmed deaths this month.
The percentage of positive tests was 14.7% as of Monday. It’s been more than three weeks since DHEC has reported a rate of positive tests under 10%. Health officials have said the number should be closer to 5%.
As of Monday, 769 patients were hospitalized with coronavirus-related symptoms.
Pandemic hurt new businesses growth in Beaufort
The COVID-19 pandemic is hurting new business development in communities across Beaufort County, the Island Packet reported.
The number of new business licenses in unincorporated Beaufort County dropped 37% from April to September, compared to the previous year. In that same period, Hilton Head Island saw 24% fewer new business licenses issued. Applications also fell in the city of Beaufort.
“Leisure and hospitality has been hit so hard, and leisure and hospitality tends to have a disproportionately large number of small businesses,” Joseph Von Nessen, a research economist at the University of South Carolina, said. “That’s going to affect the incentive to begin to look to start a new business.”
Continuing economic uncertainty likely will keep many from opening a business, Von Nessen said.
Still, there are new businesses sprouting up around the county, regardless of the perceived risk, the Packet reported. And some communities, including Bluffton, recently have been showing signs of rebounding.
Surge continues in Upstate
A surge in new coronavirus cases in South Carolina continues in the Upstate region.
Greenville County reported the most new cases in the state Sunday, with 231. Spartanburg County had the second-highest increase with 104 new cases, followed by Anderson County with 91 new cases.
South Carolina officials have warned that the state is seeing rises in key metrics, especially in the Upstate.
Daily case rates by population, the percentage of positive tests and hospitalizations have all risen since the start of September. While the state has not seen several of its key metrics hit the highs reached in July — like other parts of the country that have hit a “third wave” higher than peaks reached in the spring or summer — they are still at a rate that indicates continued disease spread.
Judge upholds mask rules
A state circuit judge upheld Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive order requiring customers and workers in restaurants to wear face masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Judge J. Mark Hayes II wrote that McMaster has the lawful authority to issue executive orders in a public health crisis and rejected a request for an injunction prohibiting the governor from issuing the order.
“The General Assembly, in recognition that the Executive needs to quickly respond to the needs of the State in a public health emergency, gave the Governor emergency powers,” the judge wrote.
Ike’s Korner Grille and its owner, Neil Hampton Rodgers, had asked the court to rule McMaster did not have the authority to issue such an order.
But the judge wrote McMaster had been granted emergency powers and was “responding to the evolving and wide-ranging threats posed by this unique public health emergency.”
This story was originally published November 16, 2020 at 6:55 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Nov. 16."
