South Carolina counties, cities mandate face masks

While Gov. Henry McMaster has said he will not mandate the use of masks and face coverings statewide, several cities and counties in South Carolina have ordered the use of face masks to try and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 1,505 new confirmed COVID-19 cases Monday out of 7,990 new tests performed, a positive rate of 18.8 percent. Statewide, 69 percent of available hospital beds are in use, with 17 percent in use by COVID-19 patients. Since March, there have been 46,247 confirmed cases, with 819 confirmed deaths.