Coronavirus cases reported among Coastal Carolina University students, staff
Coastal Carolina University reported a small coronavirus outbreak among students and staff as the university resumed activity this week.
On Friday, the university reported six new cases among students in the week of Aug. 12-19 and three COVID-19 cases among staff. Between June 8 and Aug. 19, the university saw a total of 63 positive cases.
CCU hosted move-in day on Aug. 12 and while students have returned to campus, the university is holding virtual classes until mid-September.
CCU has an extensive safety plan to address COVID-19. The university states it will supplement contract tracing done by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to identify those people who had close contact with individuals who test positive.
Those who are in close contact or do test positive are expected to quarantine from the rest of the campus. If a student who lives on-campus tests positive, they will be moved to an off-campus site to be isolated.
The Myrtle Beach area has seen a decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. To date, Horry County has had a total of 8,990 cases and 167 deaths. Across South Carolina there have been 109,135 total coronavirus cases.
There have been two COVID-19 cases in Horry-Georgetown Technical College employees since Aug. 10, according to spokeswoman Nicole Hyman. There have been no cases reported in students since Aug. 10.
Other colleges across the country - including the University if North Carolina - have reported outbreaks in their communities as they resume the traditional academic year.
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 9:44 AM.
