COVID-19 pandemic in South Carolina

• March 6: DHEC announced that two women, one from Charleston County and one from Kershaw County, were under investigation and are presumed to have South Carolina's first cases of COVID-19.[3] Tests for the two women returned the next day as "presumptive-positive," giving South Carolina its first two cases. The two cases were not linked, and one of them involved a patient who had recently traveled to Italy and France.[4]
• March 12: The South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) announced that it would suspend all athletics until April 3.[5] The South Carolina Science Olympiad canceled its state championship tournaments scheduled for March 14 and 21.[6]
• March 13: Governor Henry McMaster declares a state of emergency and orders the closure of all public schools in Kershaw and Lancaster counties for 14 days.[7]
• March 15: Governor McMaster and other officials announce the closure of all public schools in the state until March 31.[8]
• March 16:
  • A nursing home patient in Lexington County is reported as the first COVID-19 related death in South Carolina.[9][10]
  • The South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) suspends all spring sports until April 5.[11]
• March 17: Governor McMaster issues an executive order requiring the mandatory shutdown of dine-in service in restaurants and bars. The order also includes the delay of state tax deadlines until June 1, the general request of state agencies to waive any restrictive regulations in order to move faster to address the virus, and also prohibits gatherings of more than 50 people at publicly-owned facilities.[12][13]
• March 19: The Governor issues an additional executive order, ordering non-essential state employees to stay home, emergency measures for unemployment claims and benefits, among other orders, including calling for all public colleges and universities in the state to finish their semesters online.[14][15][16]
• March 20: Two deaths are reported, one in Florence County and one in Charleston County, bringing the total for the state to three. Both persons were reported as being elderly and having underlying health conditions.[17]
• March 21: The Governor says that a shelter in place is "not under consideration" at the time, after rumors to the contrary and similar action being taken by other states.[18] McMaster also orders local law enforcement to disperse crowds gathered on state beaches.[19]
• March 23:
  • DHEC reports two additional deaths, one from Kershaw County (later reclassified to Sumter County) and one from Clarendon County, bringing South Carolina's total to five. Both persons had underlying health conditions.[20]
  • Governor McMaster holds a briefing in which he instructs law enforcement to disperse any public gathering of three or more people, with violations of this rule resulting in a misdemeanor.[21]
• March 24:
  • Governor McMaster and State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman announce that public schools statewide, including colleges and universities, will remain closed through the end of April.[22][23]
  • The sixth and seventh coronavirus-related deaths are reported by DHEC. One of these was the second death reported from Florence County; this person was reported to have underlying health problems. The other death was reported from Horry County; this person did not have any reported underlying health problems. Additionally, DHEC reported that an individual whose death was originally attributed to Kershaw County actually resided in Sumter County.[24]
• March 25: The death of Jack West, the son of former Governor John C. West, is reported as the eighth in South Carolina and the first from Kershaw County.[25]
• March 27:
  • It is announced that state parks will be closed through the end of April.[26]
  • President Donald Trump approves South Carolina's disaster declaration.[27]

• April 1: The Governor orders all non-essential businesses closed temporarily.[28]
• April 3:
  • The Governor issues two additional executive orders, one ordering the closure of additional non-essential businesses,[29] and the other enforcing lodging and travel restrictions from people traveling from high-risk areas (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut).[30]
  • Data of confirmed cases by zip code is first released.[31]
  • DHEC releases data of total persons tested by DHEC Public Health Laboratory and, for the first time, data from private laboratories.[1]
• April 6: Governor McMaster issues a statewide "home or work" order, effective April 7 at 5 p.m. Individuals are permitted to commute to home or to work (for those who cannot work from home), as well as for "essential activities" or to access "essential services". Social distancing guidelines are to be followed at all times. Those in violation would be charged with a misdemeanor and required to serve 30 days in jail and/or pay a $100 fine for each day they are in violation. Retail businesses are required to have no more than 5 customers for every 1,000 square feet of space. All non-essential businesses have been ordered to close.[32][33][34]
• April 19: The Governor announces plans to allow retail stores statewide to reopen on April 21. The Post and Courier reported that "occupancy in each store will be limited to five customers per 1,000 square feet of retail space or 20% occupancy, whichever is less" and "local governments will still be allowed to make their own rules about waterway access." However, the stay-at-home order will remain in place.[35]
• April 22: Governor McMaster and Superintendent Spearman announce the closure of schools in South Carolina for the remainder of the school year.[36]

• May 4: Governor McMaster lifts the "home or work" order and announces that restaurants are allowed to begin offering outdoor dining in addition to takeout, delivery, and curbside services.[37]
• May 8: Governor McMaster reopens public boat landings and announces that restaurants can have limited indoor dining beginning May 11.[38]
• May 18: The Governor announces that athletic facilities such as gyms and close-contact providers, including barber shops and hair salons, may reopen.[38]

• June 11: The Governor announces that the state of emergency will be extended.[39]

The monitoring and testing of COVID-19 in South Carolina per the Department of Health and Environmental Control is as follows:[1]