Another eight COVID deaths and three-digit case climb for Horry; TC records half of new CC cases; governor issues last call order

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     COVID-19 claimed more lives in Horry County, infected more citizens there and in Columbus, state health agency reporting showed Tuesday.

     North Carolina’s response to the pandemic will broaden Friday with a new curfew on on-premise alcohol sales ordered by Gov. Roy Cooper.

     This post will cover these topics and may be updated:

• COVID claims eight more lives in Horry, infects at least 106
• Columbus records eight new cases, half in TC area
• Curfew set on NC restaurant alcohol sales

COVID claims eight more lives in Horry, infects at least 106

     Another deadly day in COVID-19 deaths for Horry County came in the latest SC Department of Health and Environmental Control pandemic reporting Tuesday, with eight more residents claimed by the coronavirus.

     Those deaths included a young adult, three described as middle aged, five termed elderly, those deaths taking place between July 24 and 26, the DHEC data showed.

     Another death described as “probable” related to COVID in Horry remained under investigation Tuesday, DHEC reported.

     A total of 112 Horry residents have died of COVID complications since March, the DHEC data showed Tuesday.

     After a reprieve of three days of three-digit increases in newly confirmed COVID cases for Horry, Tuesday’s DHEC reporting showed the county with 130 new cases Tuesday, the pandemic total now 7,678 since March.

     Zip Code data showed 10 of Horry’s new cases from the Loris area, the pandemic total reaching 469, while the Green Sea area held at 34 confirmed cases.

     Statewide South Carolina reported 1,573 new COVID cases and 52 new deaths Tuesday, bringing the pandemic totals to 83,720 and 1,505 respectively.

Columbus records eight new cases, half in TC area

     Columbus County has recorded eight new COVID-19 cases, in one day, half of those in the Tabor City Zip Code, daily data from North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services shows.

     Columbus County Health Department issues coronavirus updates each Monday and Thursday.

     There are timing differences and sometimes conflicts in data from the state and county agencies. DHHS data Tuesday showed Columbus County with a pandemic total of 767 cases, just two more than the 765 reported by the county health department Monday.

     Zip Code data showed Tabor City with 8 new cases Tuesday, for a pandemic total of 188. Hallsboro also showed an 8 case increase Tuesday, its pandemic total at 84.

     No new COVID deaths for Columbus were reported, the pandemic total now 44. Four of those were reported by the county health department Monday.

     North Carolina reported 1,749 new COVID infections and 30 new related deaths Tuesday, the pandemic total now 116,087 cases, 1,820 deaths.

     Hospitalizations have risen by 75 North Carolina in a day, the total Tuesday  1,244.

Curfew set on NC restaurant alcohol sales

     On-premise alcohol sales “in restaurants, breweries, wineries, and distilleries” in North Carolina will be banned from 11 p.m. through 7 a.m., beginning Friday, under a new Executive Order issued by Gov. Roy Cooper Tuesday.

     Gov. Cooper announced the new order, enacted as part of his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, during a news briefing in the state’s Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh.

     “Slowing the spread of this virus requires targeted strategies that help lower the risk of transmission,” Gov. Cooper said. “This will be particularly important as colleges and universities are scheduled to start, bringing people all over the country to our state.

     “We have seen case numbers increase among younger people, and prevention is critical to slowing the spread of the virus.”

     While the order will not apply to grocery stores, convenience stores, and other businesses licensed for off-premise consumption of alcoholic beverages, it will apply to public and private gatherings where alcohol is available for on-premise drinking, the governor said.

     Gov. Cooper’s order closely mirrors one issued by Gov. Henry McMaster for South Carolina that was effective on July 11. See a downloadable copy of Gov. Cooper’s latest Executive Order here.

    Better trends: While North Carolina set a pandemic record for COVID-19 related hospitalizations Tuesday, the total now 1,244, state Department of Health and Human Services Director Dr. Mandy Cohen sounded a cautiously optimistic note on coronavirus trends in the state during Tuesday’s news briefing.

     Hospital capacity remains good in the state, Dr. Cohen said, with the trajectory of COVID-Like illnesses reported by the state’s hospitals and lab confirmed new cases during the past 14 days starting to level.

     Testing is increasing, but the percent of positive cases found in those tests is declining, Dr. Cohen said, but remains well above five percent, which is among the state’s goals.

     “Seeing glimmers of potential progress does not mean we can let up — it means it’s time to double down,” Dr. Cohen said. “The positive signs in our trends should only strengthen our resolve to keep at it with those 3 Ws – wear a face covering, wait six feet apart, and wash your hands often.”

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.