Staff reports | South Carolina has administered 2,034,077 doses of available COVID-19 vaccines, according to a Thursday press release by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. This announcement comes just one day after general vaccine eligibility opened up to all S.C. residents ages 16 and older.
Though more residents are getting vaccinated, health officials warned people to continue taking precautions as other areas of the state, including Greenville and Anderson, are seeing a spike in case numbers.
New supplies of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may be temporarily low in the coming weeks as states are expecting delays in future shipments of the single-dose vaccine after a Baltimore-based manufacturing company mistakenly ruined 15 million doses on Wednesday.
DHEC announced 510 new cases out of 12,657 tests Thursday, a percent positive of 5.7%. An additional 14 confirmed deaths and 14 probable deaths were reported.
In other recent news:
“White Lives Matter” rallies being organized. White supremacist rallies are being organized in the Carolinas and nationwide later this month under the banner of “White Lives Matter.” Members of the Proud Boys have been among those participating in organizing the rallies nationwide, scheduled for April 11. Rhetoric used by national organizers invokes debunked theories of racial violence pushed by white supremacist killers in Charleston and elsewhere. Channels organizing events in Columbia, Asheville, Greensboro and statewide in South Carolina have been created using the anonymous Telegram messaging app as of Wednesday. Read more of this Raw Story report.
Senators look to reform election agency in S.C. South Carolina senators approved a bill Wednesday that would end the terms of the five members of the State Election Commission, force the state’s elections director to resign and allow the Senate to approve who takes over those roles. The bill will be sent to the House next week, but a gubernatorial spokesman called the bill a power grab for political interference in elections. More: AP News.
S.C. lawmakers consider breaking up public health agency. South Carolina lawmakers will hold hearings this spring on a bill to split up the state’s sprawling public health and environmental agency. More: AP News.
Trump looms over race for S.C. GOP chairman. In South Carolina — where former President Donald Trump’s 2016 primary victory marked a turning point in solidifying his nomination — the contest to lead the state’s Republican Party is turning into a debate over whose support for the former president is highest. More: AP News.
S.C. Dems want Medicaid expansion; GOP says no. Democratic state senators said a new offer from Congress ought to be enough to get South Carolina to join 38 other states and expand Medicaid to about 200,000 more uninsured residents. More: AP News.
S.C. Senate passes bill requiring full-time school. The state Senate this week unanimously passed a proposal requiring all public schools to provide in-person classes five days a week starting as soon as April 12. The proposal now heads to the House. Fifty-four of South Carolina’s 79 traditional school districts are back to five days of in-person classes. All but six districts plan to offer them by the April 12 deadline in the proposal, state officials say. More: AP News.
$6M in COVID-19 funding going to free computer labs, McMaster says. S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said Tuesday he will spend $6 million in discretionary COVID-19 relief funds on free community computer labs near broadband deserts statewide. More: AP News.
ACLU demands McMaster stop requiring public employees to return to work. The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina is demanding that Gov. Henry McMaster rescind his order for state employees to return to their office, but he has declined. More: The Post and Courier.
S.C.’s Graham, Scott introduce broadband bill. U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott have teamed up with U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn — all of South Carolina — to push for expanded internet access with a new bill. More: Florence Morning News.
Former S.C. gov, congressman joins lobbying firm. Mark Sanford has landed a gig with lobbyists Shumaker Advisors. The former South Carolina governor, congressman and presidential candidate has been tapped as an executive vice president and principal. The lobbying group operates in the Carolinas, Ohio, Florida, and Michigan. More: AP News.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!