Editor’s note: After moving to weekly updates this spring, we have restarted daily COVID-19 updates as the state experiences increased cases.
What you need to know this week: The South Carolina Supreme Court is gearing up to hear two legal challenges to the state’s budget proviso barring schools from mandating masks be worn in school buildings.
The court set aside two hours Aug. 31 to hear the cases. In the first, the city of Columbia is being sued by S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson over the city council’s passage of a state of emergency, requiring masks for workers and students.
In the second case, Richland School District 2 is suing the state, asking the justices to suspend the mask ban until it can rule on the previous case.
Meanwhile, the Charleston County School District is continuing to report high numbers of COVID cases in schools, with more than 500 confirmed after the first full week of in-person classes. Though they have mandated masks for students indoors, district leaders have said they cannot enforce the requirement in order to remain in compliance with state law.
Latest COVID-19 data
South Carolina health officials reported 4,205 total cases of COVID-19 Aug. 30, with 3,710 confirmed. A total of 1 new death, was reported Monday, a dramatic drop in both measures from days prior.
With 41,229 tests reported, 11.4% were confirmed positive.
Over the weekend, DHEC reported 11,867 total new cases, with 4,540 confirmed Saturday, and another 4,573 confirmed Sunday. A total of 110 new deaths were confirmed over the weekend, with 49 deaths confirmed Saturday and 36 deaths confirmed Sunday.
Percentage of S.C. residents with at least 1 vaccine: 56.5%
Percentage of S.C. residents who have completed vaccination: 47.5%
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