Staff reports | The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced Thursday that the state reached a 50 percent vaccination rate among eligible residents. S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster says the milestone was important, but there was still work to do.
That work may be around another milestone — confirmation by the state that more than 10,000 South Carolinians have been confirmed to have died from COVID-19. An additional 1,491 deaths are listed as “probable” COVID deaths, meaning the statewide death toll as of Thursday was 11,532, according to DHEC.
Also Thursday, state health officials reported 4,306 total cases of COVID-19 with 2,865 confirmed. A total of 49 new deaths, with 41 confirmed, also were reported Thursday. With 33,528 tests reported, 11.4 percent were confirmed positive.
In other recent news:
Murdaugh exits jail after $10M insurance fraud arrest. The Murdaugh family saga took another twist Thursday with the arrest of Alex Murdaugh, who reportedly admitted to setting up his own shooting in an insurance fraud scheme. He returned to rehab after a court hearing. More: AP News | The State | The New York Times | NPR
S.C. Senate plans October special session, masks not on agenda. South Carolina senators plan to return to the Statehouse next month for a special session on spending federal COVID-19 relief money and redistricting. More: AP News | The State
McMaster pushes back against Biden’s Medicaid measures. Gov. Henry McMaster Tuesday denounced a Biden administration move to prevent the state from inputting work requirements for some people on Medicaid. More: The State
Federal labor board rules in favor of Charleston ports agency, Leatherman Terminal. The union that represents dockworkers at the Port of Charleston cannot stop shipping lines from calling on the Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston, a federal judge ruled on Sept. 16. More: The Post and Courier.
2024: Scott, Perry, more to speak at October S.C. GOP event. Cleta Mitchell, a longtime Republican lawyer and former Trump adviser, and U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida — current chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee — are among the confirmed participants speaking at October’s First in the South Republican Action Conference, according to the S.C. Republican Party. Other confirmed speakers include Rick Perry and Reince Priebus, Trump’s Energy secretary and chief of staff.The forum will be held in late October in Myrtle Beach. More: AP News
S.C. trucker is first in state convicted in Jan. 6 Capitol assault. Long-haul trucker Andrew Hatley of Newberry this week became the first South Carolinian convicted of storming the U.S. Capitol during a Jan. 6 riot. According to media reports, Hatley pleaded guilty Tuesday to “parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building,” a federal misdemeanor that carries up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine. To date, 10 South Carolinians have been charged in connection with the attack. More: The Post and Courier | WCSC
S.C. hospitality industry still feeling worker shortage crunch. Even as unemployment rates decrease in the state and tourism regains strength, the hospitality industry is among those unable to find enough workers. More. Columbia Business Report
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