News

Masks
Digital Exclusives and Features, Local News

DHEC: ‘Help save lives’ Wear a Mask

Crysty Vaughan,

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)–As more and more record cases of Coronavirus are reported in South Carolina, State health officials are sharing ways you can ‘help stop the spread’ of the coronavirus. On Saturday DHEC reported the first child death related to Coronavirus. “Today, we mourn the loss of one of our children to this virus. It is heart-wrenching to lose a…

Dhec
ABC Columbia News Update (Second Row), Local News, State

DHEC reports record high 2,239 cases of Coronavirus, First Pediatric death

DHEC confirmed the state’s first pediatric death associated with COVID-19.
Crysty Vaughan,

COLUMBIA,  SC (WOLO)–The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental control, Saturday,  marked the highest number of reported positive cases of COVID-19 at 2,239. DHEC Health officials say the percent positive is also the highest to date, at 22.2%. Sadly, DHEC confirmed the state’s first pediatric death associated with COVID-19. Health officials say the COVID-19-associated death of a child under…
ABC Columbia News Update (Second Row), Digital Exclusives and Features, Local News

Last call: Governor bans alcohol sales at SC Bars, restaurants after 11pm

Crysty Vaughan,

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)– Get ready for last call. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster’s order to stop the sale of alcoholic beverages in all bars and restaurants after 11:00 PM, takes effect tonight. ABC Columbia image On Friday, McMaster said the order was  to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 between young adults in South Carolina. Governor Henry McMaster said, “We know…

Tax Free Weekend
Digital Exclusives and Features, Local News

SC Sales Tax Holiday set for August

Crysty Vaughan,

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)–Get ready to save. South Carolina’s annual Tax Free Weekend is set for August 7-9, 2020. During the weekend, certain items will be exempt from the state’s six percent sales tax. You can purchase everything from pencils and pens to backpacks some clothing, even computers. But remember, not everything is tax free. For a link to items that…

Scdc Testing
Local News

Woman with incarcerated loved one says SCDC needs to test staff more

Hear why one woman says the South Carolina Department of Corrections needs to increase COVID-19 testing
Tim Scott,

Columbia, SC (WOLO)– More than 370 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in South Carolina’s prisons, with seven of 21 facilities having a positive test. ABC Columbia’s Tim Scott spoke with one woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, who has a loved one in one of these facilities. Tim has more on why she wants SCDC to start testing more…

Phth Ld Story 2607
Digital Exclusives and Features, Local News

Prisma Health helps NC woman witness birth of first grandchild during pandemic

The new mother is stationed at Shaw Air Force Base
ABC Columbia Staff,

Columbia, SC (WOLO) — Hospitals have been closed to the visitors in order to reduce the risk of exposure to coronavirus for months. Still, that wasn’t going to keep one North Carolina woman from being able to witness the birth of her first grand baby. Tomiko Plummer’s daughter is stationed at Shaw Air force Base and when it came time…

Thecomet01252019bymichaeldantzler 1
Local News

COMET officials: DART bus driver in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19

The driver works for the Transportation Care Services
ABC Columbia Staff,

Columbia, SC (WOLO) –The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET)  says one of the DART drivers is in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) announced that a driver of Transportation Care Services (TCS), which operates DART and is a subcontractor of RATP Dev USA, Inc., has tested positive for coronavirus during…
Local News

USC President vows to stand behind international students if forced to leave country

Homeland Security says students enrolled in online classes may be forced to leave
ABC Columbia Staff,

Columbia, SC (WOLO) –The University of South Carolina is standing by its international students. Earlier this week the Department of Homeland Security and the Student Exchange Visitor Program announced that foreign students who were enrolled in fully on-line programs could be forced to leave the country. In a letter to students, faculty, and staff University President Bob Caslen writes, “To…

Prison
Health, Local News, State

SC Dept. of Corrections increases testing of inmates, staff due to COVID-19

A closer look at some of the changes SCDC is implementing after nearly 400 positive COVID 19 cases
ABC Columbia Staff, Tim Scott,

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — An area that has been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in South Carolina has been the state’s correctional facilities. According to the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), at least 370 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in South Carolina’s prisons, with five deaths reported. SCDC also says seven of 21 facilities have reported a…