Coronavirus live updates Sept 12: Myrtle Beach area sees just one new COVID-19 case

Sep. 19--Coronavirus numbers continued to grow in Horry County with an additional case Saturday.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control officials say the Myrtle Beach area has seen a total of 9,845 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started in mid-March.

There have been 183 deaths in Horry County from coronavirus. No new deaths were announced Saturday.

A news release from DHEC indicates Horry County had 21 new cases Saturday, but the website's data shows just one. DHEC has stated that the online data is the most accurate.

Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus in the Myrtle Beach area Sept. 19:

In Georgetown County, the total number of coronavirus cases sits at 1,771. There have also been 42 deaths.

South Carolina has a total of 134,052 coronavirus cases since the pandemic started in March. There have also been 3,017 deaths across the state.

Cases rise at CCU

The number of positive coronavirus cases at Coastal Carolina University increased for the third consecutive week.

The school announced 82 new cases Friday in the week from Sept. 10-16, consisting of 79 students and three staff/faculty members.

After announcing just three cases for the week of Aug. 20-26 -- weekly test numbers are through 5 p.m. Wednesdays -- the cases increased to 56 on Sept. 2, 61 on Sept. 9 and now 82 on Wednesday.

The university has registered a total of 265 cases, including 242 among students, since testing began on June 8 when athletes began returning to campus for workouts.

CCU now has a weekly high of 101 students in isolation and 183 in quarantine.

Coastal is leasing off-campus housing properties in four-month increments to isolate students who have tested positive, and the number of available beds is elastic and can be increased as needed, according to Martha Hunn, CCU Associate Vice President and Chief Communication Officer.

The fall semester began on Aug. 19 with online classes and in-person classes on campus began Sept. 8, though students have the option of either form of learning until the Thanksgiving break.

More than 4,000 students were expected to move into university housing between Aug. 12 and Sept. 4, with the bulk of them moving in between Aug. 12-16 and the second wave arriving on Sept. 3-4.

Wash your hands & wear a mask

This is your daily reminder to wash your hands often, wear a mask and practice social distancing.

DHEC asks people to wear a mask when visiting public places and practice social distancing to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. It is now mandatory to wear face masks in certain public areas in unincorporated Horry County, the City of Myrtle Beach, the City of North Myrtle Beach and Georgetown County.

Health officials say washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

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