What you need to know: South Carolina has logged 750,000 total cases of COVID-19 and 11,000 deaths due to the virus since the onset of the pandemic, according to an announcement from the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Three Midlands cities — Columbia, West Columbia and Cayce — have begun bringing back indoor mask mandates as the current outbreak rivals the heights of the pandemic in 2020.
The state has not passed a statewide mask mandate but allowed local governments to pass their own in 2020. Most of them faded away after Gov. Henry McMaster ended a 14-month long COVID-19 state of emergency in June.
The state was seeing about 150 new cases per day at the time, but now, South Carolina is seeing as many as 5,400. The state has the second highest number of new cases by population just behind Tennessee, according to a New York Times report.
Latest COVID-19 data
South Carolina health officials reported 3,466 total cases of COVID-19 Sept. 9, with 2,198 confirmed. A total of 55 new deaths, with 50 confirmed, were also reported Thursday.
With 22,550 tests reported, 12.9% were confirmed positive.
Percentage of S.C. residents with at least 1 vaccine: 57.9%
Percentage of S.C. residents who have completed vaccination: 48.9%
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.