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Coronavirus case confirmed in Myrtle Beach, SC area

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Health official confirmed the first case of the coronavirus in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday night.

Grand Strand Medical Center provided a statement on Sunday morning confirming that the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control informed the facility that a patient tested positive for COVID-19.

“The patient is in isolation. We have been working with SCDHEC to identify and contact colleagues who may have been in contact with the patient,” according to the statement.

Before the patient tested positive, Grand Strand had already started to screen all people who enter the hospital. No one older than 69 or under 18 years old can visit.

“We will continue to reinforce infection prevention protocols and are working in partnership with SCDHEC and local and state agencies,” Grand Strand officials noted.

In addition, supplies have been placed strategically to keep any potential coronavirus patient from getting far into the hospital.

As of Sunday the virus has reached across the country including Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Arizona, Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, the New York Time reports Wednesday.

Conway, Tidelands, McLeod clear

Conway Medical Center has had no positive cases of coronavirus as of early Sunday afternoon, according to the hospital’s media relations strategist, Allyson Floyd.

Tidelands Health has no confirmed cases of COVID-19, spokeswoman Dawn Bryant said.

McLeod Health spokeswoman Kelly Hughes said there are no confirmed case at their hospital. She said screening is standard protocol for anyone who arrives with signs and symptoms.

How to prevent the spread of coronavirus

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends facemasks should be used only by people who show symptoms of COVID-19, health care workers and those who are taking care of someone “in close settings.”

Here are more ways to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to the CDC.

This story was originally published March 15, 2020 at 10:36 AM.

Follow More of Our Reporting on Coronavirus in South Carolina

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Tyler Fleming
The Sun News
Development and Horry County reporter Tyler Fleming joined The Sun News in May of 2018. He covers other stuff too, like reporting on beer, bears, breaking news and Coastal Carolina University. He graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2018 and was the 2017-18 editor-in-chief of The Daily Tar Heel. He has won (and lost) several college journalism awards.
Hannah Strong
The Sun News
The Sun News Reporter Hannah Strong is passionate about making the world better through what she reports and writes. Strong, who is a Pawleys Island native, is quick to jump on breaking news, profiles stories about people in the community and obituaries. Strong has won four S.C. Press Association first-place awards, including one for enterprise reporting after riding along with police during a homicide. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Winthrop University.
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