SC embraced reopening faster than most, study says. Now COVID-19 cases are surging
South Carolina has been hitting record high coronavirus case counts this month, even as residents flock to reopened businesses faster than nearly every other state in the country.
Foot traffic to bars, restaurants, retail stores, and even hotels is nearing -- and in some cases surpassing -- pre-lockdown levels, according to a study by research company Safegraph, which used anonymous smartphone data to measure customer traffic.
Only in three states is business “closer to normal;” Wyoming, Mississippi, and South Dakota, according to the study, whichtracked data from March 7 to June 7.
Growing concern
The state Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 542 new cases on Monday, the highest single day count recorded so far, according to The State. At the same time, COVID-19 hospitalizations are also increasing.
“I have to say that today, I am more concerned about COVID-19 in South Carolina than I ever have been before,” state epidemiologist Linda Bell said during a Wednesday press conference, where another 528 cases were announced.
Health officials aren’t certain what accounts for the increase in reported cases, saying it could either be due to expanded testing, or because more people aren’t social distancing and wearing masks, The State reported.
“We’re all eager to return to our normal lives or what our new normal will be, but it will take us that much longer to get there if we don’t stop the virus today,” Bell said.
Officials have repeatedly called on the public to take those precautions to heart, but some feel the message isn’t being taken seriously.
Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune said her city is especially challenged now that tourism season has arrived, The Sun News reported. Horry County, where Myrtle Beach resides, was recently dubbed a coronavirus “hot spot” by DHEC.
“We have more and more people coming here and people are falsely under the assumption there is not a virus any longer,” Bethune told The Sun News. “We’re still in a pandemic, but people aren’t following the guidelines.”
In April, Bethune said she was against reopening hotels but couldn’t legally do anything to stop it, according to the outlet.
Business, by the numbers
South Carolina bars are mending well, and were seeing 84% of their normal customer base as of June 6, according to the study,
Coffee and snack bars are just shy of a full comeback, sitting at 98%.
Sit-down restaurants are getting 95% of their pre-covid business, the study found. Counter-service restaurants are up to 97%, but have had a larger, steadier stream of customers throughout the lockdown.
Hotels are currently flourishing, according to the study, business is up over 50% from early March and is still trending upward.
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 6:22 PM with the headline "SC embraced reopening faster than most, study says. Now COVID-19 cases are surging."