In a pandemic, Columbus Schools need to know who’s coming to class; COVID case reports for Horry, CC

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     COVID-19 case counts continue climbing locally as educators are planning for a new public school year greatly impacted by the pandemic.

     This post will cover these topics and may be updated:

• Remote or ‘blended’ learning? CC Schools needs to know
• Another Horry COVID death, 115 new cases
• Slower day, 14 new infections reported for CC

Remote or ‘blended’ learning? CC Schools needs to know

     No matter what, schools will look different when the new academic year begins, including in the Columbus County Schools beginning Aug. 17.

     District leaders are giving parents an option this year, 100 percent distance learning via the Internet, or a “blended” option that will include in-class instruction with some distance learning days.

     That’s all designed to allow for social distancing between students on campus, while giving families an option they believe is best for their situation.

     What district leaders don’t know, yet, is which families want which option. They have created an online “Student Attendance Preference Declaration” designed to aid in the planning. With just a month before opening day, district leaders are asking that parents/guardians respond to the survey quickly.

     To complete the declaration visit here.

     A quick link can be found inside this story at tabor-loris.com.

Another Horry COVID death, 115 new cases

     Another Horry County resident has been claimed by COVID-19 with 115 citizens newly confirmed as infected by the coronavirus, South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control reported Friday.

     Five of the newly confirmed cases are from the Loris Zip Code, bringing that total to 374, the Green Sea area holding steady with 31 cases, DHEC data showed Friday.

     A COVID-19 outbreak at Loris Rehab and Nursing Center, almost under control, remains active with an additional staff member testing positive for the coronavirus, DHEC data showed Friday. That brings the pandemic total to 57 residents and 27 staff members infected, 13 residents who have died from the disease, the most recent reported July 10.

     A total of 76 county residents have died of COVID complications during the pandemic, 6,501 infected by the disease.

     South Carolina recorded 1,964 newly confirmed COVID cases Friday, 25 new deaths bringing the pandemic totals to 65,857 and 1,078 respectively.

     COVID related hospitalizations rose again in South Carolina Friday, 1,593 people in the hospital due to the coronavirus, 15 more than Thursday.

Fourteen new infections reported for CC

     Another 14 Columbus County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services reported Friday, bringing the pandemic total to 672 with 39 deaths, the most recent weeks ago.

     DHHS data is uploaded to its website daily, and is often behind data provided each Monday and Thursday by the Columbus County Health Department, which reported 667 positive cases among county residents on Thursday.

     DHHS data Thursday showed the county with 658 confirmed cases.

     Zip Code data showed the Tabor City area with two new cases, for a pandemic total of 170 infected residents, 11 deaths. Newly confirmed infections in other areas, by Zip Code, with the updated pandemic totals of cases/deaths, include: Whiteville, 5, to 187/12; Fair Bluff, 3, 27/4; Bolton, 2, 27/0; Chadbourn and Delco, each with a single new cases, their respective totals 85/5 and 20/0.

     Columbus County Health Department’s COVID-19 Call Center remains operational from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at 910-640-6615 ext. 7045 or 7046.

     North Carolina reported 2,051 new COVID infections and 18 new related deaths, the DHHS dashboard showed Friday. That brings the state’s pandemic total to 95,477 people infected with the coronavirus, 1,606 killed.

     Hospitalizations rose by 46 Thursday, the DHHS data showed, to 1,180.

Updates

     Look for continuing coverage on local impacts from the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak here and in the Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.