Coronavirus updates in SC: Reopening continues with attractions like arcades, water parks, zoos
Note: The coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly developing event, and this story contains information that was only updated through May 20, 2020. Some of the information here may have changed because of the breaking nature of the pandemic; updates are reflected in more current stories. For our the latest on the coronavirus outbreak and its impact on South Carolina visit greenvillenews.com or independentmail.com.
SC COVID-19 map:County-by-county look at coronavirus cases
Coronavirus noticias en Carolina del Sur: Empresas que suponen contacto cercano pueden reabrir
Full coverage:Everything you need to know about coronavirus in South Carolina
DHEC reports 125 new cases, eight deaths
State health officials Wednesday reported 125 new cases of COVID-19 and eight additional deaths.
This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 9,175 and those who have died to 407.
SC youth and recreational sports leagues can resume practice
Youth and adult recreational sports leagues can begin practicing May 30 with games allowed to start June 15, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced during his COVID-19 briefing Wednesday.
Sports leagues will have guidelines for reopening, and will need to keep a list of coaches, players and employees at each event.
Attractions will be allowed to reopen by Memorial Day weekend
Gov. Henry McMaster announced during a press conference Wednesday that attractions such as arcades, museums, water parks and zoos will be allowed to reopen Friday, in time for the Memorial Day weekend.
These businesses must follow an array of guidelines emphasizing the need for social distancing and frequent cleaning of equipment during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Guests will be encouraged — but not required — to wear masks.
Officials said they believe that opening attractions in places like Myrtle Beach will lessen the potential for overcrowding on beaches during the holiday weekend.
Greenville County water parks to open June 15
The Greenville County Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism will open county water parks on Monday, June 15, according to its website. County water parks include Discovery Island at Southside Park in Simpsonville, Otter Creek at Northside Park in Greenville and 7th Inning Splash at Lakeside Park in Piedmont.
Greenville Tech approves tuition freeze for summer and fall classes
The Greenville Technical College Area Commission approved a tuition and fee freeze for summer and fall 2020 aimed at keeping "education affordable as families experience financial setbacks brought on by the pandemic," according to a release from the school.
The move maintains a cost of $2,389 for 12 credit hours for Greenville County residents and $2,593 for 12 credit hours for non-county residents, according to the release.
ECPI reopening Greenville campus
ECPI University is reopening its Greenville campus, effective immediately, according to a release from the school.
Extra safety measures the school is taking as it reopens include:
- Increased cleaning of common areas, restrooms and high touch surfaces each day
- Designated entrances for faculty and staff
- Temperature checks for faculty, staff and students when entering the building
- Sanitizing stations
- Elevators to be limited to two passengers at a time
- Face coverings/masks should be worn in common areas and people who do not have one will have one provided to them
- Limitation on visitors to campus
- Designated areas for vendors and food delivery workers to drop off and pick up
- Closure of common break rooms and vending machines
- Signage and floor markings to remind people of social distancing protocols and preventative measures
- Classrooms and labs reconfigured to allow for social distancing between workstations
- Faculty, staff and students will complete a confidential health assessment before they return to work/school
Greenville medical supply firm launches program to help employers with process of reopening businesses
Greenville medical supply company Vessel Medical partnered with commercial laboratory Premier Medical Laboratory Services to create a program aimed at helping employers with the process of reopening businesses amid the current coronavirus pandemic, according to a release.
The program consists of three components: Testing, safety and monitoring. That includes equipping businesses with "high complexity diagnostic testing for COVID-19" with a quick turnaround of results, providing protective equipment for employees and outfitting businesses with entry point monitoring of employee temperature, according to a release.
SC Housing providing $5 million in emergency rental assistance
Approximately $5 million in emergency rental assistance from the SC Housing agency is available to South Carolinians "facing financial hardships as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis," according to a release. This includes renters affected by shutdowns, closures, layoffs, reduced work hours or unpaid leave.
Rental assistance could total up to $1,500 per household, with payments made directly to landlords or management companies, according to a release.
To be eligible for the program, applicants must:
- Be a South Carolina resident
- Have a maximum household income at or below 80% of the area median income for the county in which they reside
- Provide documentation demonstrating how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their employment or income beginning March 10, 2020 or later
Residents can check the income eligibility for each county at this link: www.schousing.com/library/Monitoring/2020%20Income_Rent%20Limits/2020%2080%20Income%20Rent%20Limits.pdf
To apply for the rental assistance program, visit this link: scthrive.org/covid-19-rental-assistance-program
Greenville County Schools moves meal delivery location due to flooding
Greenville County Schools' meal delivery bus that usually parks at Westside Park (2700 W. Blue Ridge Drive) will instead be setting up at New Life Baptist Church (2691 W. Blue Ridge Drive) Wednesday until 12 p.m.
No pay cuts, furloughs planned at Clemson
While South Carolina colleges slash budgets amidst the coronavirus pandemic, Clemson University is maintaining it has no current plans to cut pay or athletics programs, although it is a cost-saving tool the school can utilize if it needs to, officials said.
Clemson's Board of Trustees is meeting Wednesday at noon to discuss the school's financial outlook, among other things, as colleges across the country look toward the fall semester and the potential impact on next years' budgets if classes remain online.
Clemson Covid Challenge addresses pandemic problems
In March, Clemson engineering faculty members were approached by Prisma Health to create a device that would limit the spread of the coronavirus from patients to the healthcare professionals treating them.
The faculty members enlisted the help of three Clemson engineering students.
In less than two months, the students created a "negative pressure device" that keeps a Covid-19 patient's airflow from the healthcare provider, protecting the worker from infection, explained Amanda Lematty, one of the students.
SC candidates struggle to reach leery voters before the primary elections
The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically changed how candidates in South Carolina's June 9 primaries are campaigning. Analysts say the new landscape tends to favor incumbents who are familiar to donors and voters alike.
Many candidates are trying to figure out how to appeal to two groups of voters who could play key roles.
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Here's what to know Wednesday
- What is contact tracing, and how does it work? Here's how contact tracing is being used in South Carolina and why some say it poses privacy risks.
- South Carolina's coronavirus recovery panel reviewed a laundry list of recommendations Tuesday for spending more than $1 billion in federal aid. Possibilities included bolstering the state's unemployment benefit fund and summer reading and math camps for students.
- The city of Greenville, facing financial challenges from the coronavirus, is finding a way to move forward with high-profile projects. Priorities include construction of Unity Park and three bridges along the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
- Clemson students created a website called SaveMAPS, or Save Mom and Pops, to help small businesses sell gift cards.
- Merchants in college towns are entering their traditional slow period and look ahead to a fall forecast clouded with uncertainty. Experts warn they might face a prolonged slump that could mean “total devastation.”