<strong>By Mike McCombs</strong>

Gov. Henry McMaster announced on Friday, Oct. 2 that South Carolina’s restaurants would once again be able to operate at 100 percent capacity, effective immediately.

“South Carolina is open for business” McMaster said in a release. “Our state’s approach has been a measured, deliberate, and targeted one – aimed at keeping our economy open and our people safe.”

Prior to Friday’s order – Executive Order 2020-63 – the state’s restaurants were operating at 50% capacity.

Two other major safety restrictions on the state’s restaurants remain in place until further notice – the required use of face coverings for patrons and staff and the governor’s “last call order,” which prohibits the sale or consumption of alcohol in restaurants after 11 p.m.

At least one Beaufort area establishment won’t be changing what it’s doing anytime soon.

Nick Borreggine, owner of Fat Patties in Port Royal, said the restaurant would continue to operate as it had all summer.

“We’ve been doing OK operating at 50 percent,” he said, “so we’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing to help ensure the safety of our staff, not to mention our customers.”

Borreggine said Fat Patties’ ability to conveniently provide outdoor seating, given the more pleasant climate during the fall, was also a factor in his decision.

There are still a number of safety measures that are no longer required but strongly encouraged. Per the Governor’s release, they include the following:

Restaurants should space indoor and outdoor tables 6 feet apart, to the extent possible.

Restaurants should limit seating each table to no more than 8 customers and patrons, exclusive of family units or members of the same household.

Restaurants should adopt and enforce a process to ensure that customers and patrons are able to maintain a minimum of 6 feet of separation from other parties while waiting to be seated.

Restaurants should minimize, modify, or discontinue services that allow customers and patrons to fill or refill their own beverage cups.

Safe at school for now

As students were preparing to begin a hybrid instruction in Beaufort County, the number of cases reported by schools remained low.

In northern Beaufort County, through Tuesday, Oct. 5, Beaufort High School and John Paul II Catholic School (Jasper Co.) each had reported less than five cases among students. Coosa Elementary had reported fewer than five cases among faculty.

<em>Mike McCombs is the Editor of<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.</em>


<b>THE LAST WEEK<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></b>

<b>Monday, Oct. 5</b>

<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>545

<b>S.C. deaths: </b>4

<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>12

<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>0

<b>Percent Positive: </b>11.0

<b>Sunday, Oct. 4</b>

<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>619

<b>S.C. deaths: </b>12

<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>7

<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>1

<b>Percent Positive: </b>11.8

<b>Saturday, Oct. 3</b>

<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>649

<b>S.C. deaths: </b>31

<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>15

<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>0

<b>Percent Positive: </b>32.6

<b>Friday, Oct. 2</b>

<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>256

<b>S.C. deaths: </b>12

<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>7

<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>0

<b>Percent Positive: </b>15.3

<b>Thursday, Oct. 1</b>

<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>229

<b>S.C. deaths: </b>20

<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>9

<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>0

<b>Percent Positive: </b>13.5

<b>Wednesday, Sept. 30</b>

<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>197

<b>S.C. deaths: </b>21

<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>5

<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>0

<b>Percent Positive: </b>15.7

<b>Tuesday, Sept. 29</b>

<b>New S.C. Cases: </b>527

<b>S.C. deaths: </b>22

<b>New Beaufort Co. Cases: </b>37

<b>Beaufort Co. deaths: </b>0

<b>Percent Positive: </b>13.2

<b>THE NUMBERS<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></b>

From S.C. DHEC

<b>Totals</b>

As of Monday, Oct. 5

<b>S.C. confirmed cases: </b>147,116

<b>S.C. probable cases: </b>5,043

<b>S.C. confirmed deaths: </b>3,258

<b>S.C. probable deaths: </b>198

<b>Beaufort County cases: </b>5,695

<b>Beaufort County deaths: </b>81

<b>THE AVERAGES</b>

<b>Last week’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>503.14

<b>Previous week’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>630.4

<b>Two weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>594.4

<b>Three weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>524.4

<b>Four weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>866.9

<b>Five weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>782.7

<b>Six weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>755.6

<b>Seven weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>790.9

<b>Eight weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1074.4

<b>Nine weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,418.1

<b>10 weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,449.6

<b>11 weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,860.2

<b>12 weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,663.1

<b>13 weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,604.1

<b>14 weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, state: </b>1,263.6

<b>Last week’s 7-day avg. new cases, county: </b>13.14

<b>Previous week’s 7-day avg. new cases, county: </b>20.6

<b>Two weeks ago’s 7-day avg. new cases, county: </b>25.7

<b>Three weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>18.7

<b>Four weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>31.0

<b>Five weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>23.1

<b>Six weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>29.0

<b>Seven weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>35.7

<b>Eight weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>65.4

<b>Nine weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>83.3

<b>10 weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>83.9

<b>11 weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>72.4

<b>12 weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>72.6

<b>13 weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>52.4

<b>14 weeks ago’s 7-day average new cases, county: </b>38.9