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8 additional deaths, 237 new COVID-19 cases announced in SC by DHEC https://www.wistv.com/2020/04/26/additional-deaths-new-covid-cases-announced-sc-by-dhec/
SC allowed some retail businesses to reopen April 20. That was 6 days ago. When it was announced April 19 that this was the plan, many noticed an immediate increase in traffic and people going out and about without masks or social distancing. 2/
(This will be a slow thread.)
(This will be a slow thread.)
On the day of the official reopening announcement, the official number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in SC had dropped to 64, down from 136 the previous day. 3/
The executive order announced by the governor allowed those businesses to reopen beginning at 5pm that day, and beaches were allowed to reopen April 21. This was Surfside beach at 12:30pm on the day of reopening. https://twitter.com/andyshain/status/1252644513362972673?s=21
The evening before the governor’s announcement, the cities of Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, and Folly Beach made a joint statement: “There is no evidence from medical professionals that indicates that the threat of COVID- 19 in our region has diminished....” 4/
“South Carolina is still in the acceleration phase and even with the reduction in growth of new cases, new cases could begin to grow quickly if social distancing restrictions are lifted,” they said. After the announcement the city of Myrtle Beach made a similar decision. 5/
On the Tuesday beaches were allowed to reopen, the number of positive COVID-19 reported for the day in South Carolina was 172. From there, the number of cases are as follows:
4/22 - 160
4/23 - 161
4/24 - 168
4/25 - 180
4/26 - 237
6/
4/22 - 160
4/23 - 161
4/24 - 168
4/25 - 180
4/26 - 237
6/
At least one coastal town (Edisto) has decided to reopen for new short-term rental reservations beginning May 15. May 8 they reopen to existing rental reservations. 7/
The White House guidelines for states suggest a “Downward trajectory of covid-like syndromic cases reported within a 14-day period” before entering Phase One of reopening. https://www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica/
8/
8/
According to that timeline, South Carolina should have restarted its journey to a gradual reopening every day since April 21 numbers were reported, but clearly have not. As I see and hear about more people going out and about AND hosting gatherings... 8/
...(without mask protection, at that), I’m reminded of heavy weight of the words state leaders use when speaking publicly. Our governor has not lifted his “home or work order,” and it is reported that he’ll reissue the State of Emergency order that expires tomorrow. 9/
Article via @postandcourier... https://www.postandcourier.com/health/covid19/no-immediate-signs-when-sc-will-ease-coronavirus-restrictions-to-reopen-state/article_a266eb44-8645-11ea-8924-d371d0a802f5.html 10/
And yet, at the mere mention of a (premature and gradual) reopening of businesses, people have eased off their vigilance. It has been 6 days since retail businesses were allowed to reopen. It takes 2 - 14 days for symptoms of COVID-19 to show (for most people it’s 5-8 days). 11/
Many more people who contract the disease don’t develop symptoms, but can still spread it to others, which is dangerous to those with suppressed immune systems due to health or medications such as prednisone. 12/
Age, race, asthma, susceptibility to pneumonia, and diabetes are just some of the underlying situations we know about that put a person at risk SO FAR. So much is still unknown while new information is discovered about this each day. 13/
These are just some of the reasons why leaders need to choose their words and communications so carefully right now. Because there are times—though they don’t come around often—that public health has to take precedence above all else. Because there are times— 14/
though they don’t come around often—that public health has to take precedence above all else. This is one of them. Be smart. Stay home. Leaders, don’t rush. Concentrate on guiding people through without endangering lives. Look for innovative ways to help those without work. 15/
Let’s do this the right way, because the current way will likely lead to an even bigger explosion of positive cases and deaths within the coming weeks, and “because the economy” is cold comfort to those on ventilators or to the loved ones of those who die of COVID-19. /END THREAD
