As new coronavirus cases inch upward in South Carolina and other states see surges driven by the fast-spreading Delta variant, federal health officials issued new guidance on July 27 directing all people living in pandemic hot spots to wear masks inside, regardless of vaccination status.

But South Carolina’s cities, towns and counties aren’t likely to immediately pass new mask mandates.

The guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is new, and spokesmen for Charleston and North Charleston said officials haven’t yet had a chance to review the federal agency’s suggestions in depth.

And for now, no communities in the Charleston area are considered coronavirus hot spots.

“Fortunately, Charleston’s vaccination rate is well above the state average and our city is not currently considered a hot spot,” said Jack O’Toole, a Charleston spokesman. “That said, we’re mindful of this latest CDC guidance and will continue to work closely with (the Medical University of South Carolina) and other area health care professionals to ensure that city policy is consistent with their best medical judgment in this constantly evolving situation.”

Ryan Johnson, a North Charleston spokesman, said his city’s officials are reviewing the CDC guidance and continue to urge residents to get vaccinated.

Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie said he is proud of the town’s high vaccination rate and hopes to see more residents get their shots.

Issuing new mask mandates, however, is not currently an option, Haynie said.

“Mandating masks with all that has changed, including the high vaccination rate, is legally and politically not on the table, he said. “We continue to emphasize getting vaccinations.”

The Post and Courier called Summerville Mayor Ricky Waring but he could not be reached for this story.

Local governments around the Palmetto State could face a complicated road if they want to reinstate mask rules.

That’s because of a May 11 order issued by Gov. Henry McMaster that nullified local coronavirus restrictions that were tied to his pandemic emergency declarations.

During much of the pandemic, local governments that passed mask rules pinned their legal authority on McMaster’s declarations. The governor never passed a statewide mandate, instead leaving masking decisions up to each city, county and town.

With the legal framework of the governor’s orders gone, local governments that want to pass mask rules will have to rewrite their ordinances to put them in place.

Brian Symmes, a spokesman for the governor, said McMaster never implemented a statewide mask mandate at the height of the pandemic and “he’s certainly not going to now.”

“Aside from the fact it is entirely unenforceable, South Carolinians have been learning about the virus for over a year and a half now,” Symmes said. “They know what they need to do to be safe, and they certainly don’t need the governor or any other government official restricting them in any way at this point.”

Masking rules across the country relaxed during spring and early summer as case numbers fell. But the emergence of the Delta variant, a strain of the coronavirus that’s mutated to spread more easily from person to person, started spreading rapidly, especially in communities with lower vaccination rates. The new strain has some cities and towns revaluating their mask rules. On July 26, Savannah, Ga., reinstated its mask ordinance.

Shortly after the CDC’s announcement on July 27, Dr. Gerald E. Harmon, president of the American Medical Association, issued a statement agreeing with the federal agency.

“With cases of COVID-19 continuing to increase in the United States and a significant number of people who remain unvaccinated, the CDC’s updated mask guidance is needed to help curb the spread of COVID-19—particularly the delta variant, which we know is much more contagious,” Harmon, a physician who is based in Pawleys Island, said.

Emerging data shows that vaccinated people who are infected by the Delta variant carry similar viral loads as those who aren’t vaccinated, he said.

That high viral load increases the chances that person will pass the virus to someone else, Harmon said. Research does show the authorized vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe COVID-19 complications, such as hospitalization and death.

The American Medical Association strongly supports the CDC’s updated recommendations, Harmon said.

“Wearing a mask is a small, but important protective measure that can help us all stay safer,” Harmon said. “The AMA continues to strongly encourage everyone who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccines to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control also weighed in on the masking issue and agreed with the CDC’s guidance on Tuesday.

“DHEC is adopting the federal agency’s updated guidance and is recommending all South Carolinians, including those who are fully vaccinated, wear their masks when indoors and in public settings,” the state public health agency said.

Officials cited a rise in breakthrough cases — COVID-19 infections in people who are fully vaccinated — that is likely being fueled by the rise of the Delta variant, the agency said.

State health officials said the agency’s recommendations are not a mandate and acknowledged that state law prohibits mask mandates in schools.

But the agency is strongly recommending individuals wear masks to protect themselves and others, according to the statement.

“Today’s change in guidance from the CDC reflects the very concerning trends we are seeing nationally and here in South Carolina regarding increasing case rates and a stagnant vaccination rate,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC’s public health director. “We were hoping to reach herd immunity to stifle the spread of COVID-19 to prevent this scenario, but public health urgency now makes it necessary to return to recommending universal masking in public indoor settings.”

DHEC’s statement appears to be in conflict with McMaster’s earlier statements on masks, particularly in schools.

State law now prohibits school administrators from requiring students to wear a mask. The General Assembly agreed with me – and that decision is now left up to the parents.

— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) July 27, 2021

“State law now prohibits school administrators from requiring students to wear a mask,” the governor wrote in a series of tweets on July 27. “The General Assembly agreed with me — and that decision is now left up to the parents. The delta variant poses a real threat to South Carolinians. However, shutting our state down, closing schools and mandating masks is not the answer. Personal responsibility is.”

McMaster also continued to urge South Carolinians to get vaccinated. To date, less than half of the state is fully vaccinated.

The Governor’s Office confirmed DHEC did not consult with McMaster or his staff before issuing the statement about the CDC’s new guidance. The state’s public health agency is not part governor’s Cabinet and is governed by its own board.

School districts and campuses seeking guidance on masking, meanwhile, remain prohibited from enacting mask mandates.

State legislators blocked school districts and any individual schools from using state funds to require that students and employees wear a mask at any education facility. That rule went into effect July 1 and will be in place for a year.

Erica Taylor, chief of staff for the Charleston County School District, said officials will review the new CDC guidelines and continue discussions with DHEC as well as the Medical University of South Carolina, “seeking a responsible position that complies with the recent state proviso prohibiting school districts and schools from mandating masks for students and employees.”

In a similar move, the Legislature banned public colleges, including technical colleges, from requiring masks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – A plan for a boutique hotel on Shem Creek is heading to the Town of Mount Pleasant’s Commerical Design Review Board as some nearby businesses are raising concerns about the location of the proposed hotel.

The Mill Street Hotel is slated to be in an empty lot on Mill Street right across the street from The Crab House and the Bohemia Salon.

According to the developer of the project, CKC Properties, The Mill Street Hotel project consists a of small boutique hotel that provides quality spaces for tourists and local’s family members to stay while visiting Mount Pleasant, Charleston, and the Shem Creek area.

The hotel will include a pool, gym, and rooftop deck. The renderings for the hotel display three buildings.

“The goal with the design was to break down the massing utilizing multiple structures to create a more residential feel and a “living court” leading into the main hotel building from the Lucas Street entrance. We feel our design team has done a great job to accomplish this while working closely with the town throughout the process,” said Colin Colbert of CKC Properties.

The project has been in the works since the beginning of the year.

Stores, restaurants, and other businesses surround the lot on Mill Street. Parking is already tight in the area and one employee at Coastal Expeditions says she hopes, if the hotel does come to the creek, the town will create more parking and work towards safer roads.

“Our business along with the other businesses in this area are not happy about the idea of a hotel going in right here without serious investments in infrastructure and parking to go along with it and the proposal that’s on the table right now is not adequate for what we need in this area,” said Lisa Jones, the Chief Operating Officer at Coastal Expeditions.

Jones cites heavy traffic on the roads surrounding the lot, especially on weekend days, and narrow, unsafe roads for her concerns.

In past years, millions of dollars have been invested into one side of Shem Creek, near Red’s Ice House, Waters Edge, and Vickery’s, to build a boardwalk, a dock, and more.

“So we think that on this side of Coleman Boulevard it’s time to make investments for parking because we have the public dock here, we have businesses,” said Jones.

Mt. Pleasant Town Councilman Gary Santos agrees with Jones’ concerns about parking saying the area is already overcrowded.

“It’s so congested down here and I think a hotel is inappropriate for this area,” said Santos. “Right now traffic is unbearable, parking is unbearable, and if you put a hotel right here it’s going to even be worse.”

News 2 brought these concerns to CKC Properties. In response to the parking concern, a representative from CKC released the following statement.

This neighborhood of Shem Creek is blessed with many great and successful existing businesses. We recognize the pre-existing condition regarding the parking in front of our site along Mill Street. Our proposed development will include more than adequate parking for the intended use. In fact, our plans include on-site parking of approximately 30% more spaces than the parking requirement. This will ensure that our proposed development does not contribute to the on-street parking conditions. Our observations regarding the on-street parking in front of our site indicates that many of those utilizing on-street parking happen to be employees of those existing businesses and we believe that proper management of that issue could result in vastly improved conditions. Furthermore, our plans include improvements to the streetscape along Mill Street which will provide organized parking and improved pedestrian access.

Colin Colbert, CKC Properties

Colbert says residents of the Old Village have provided positive feedback because should the hotel be approved and built, their friends will have a place to stay when visiting.

On Wednesday, July 18, Mt. Pleasant’s Commerical Design Review Board will be discussing the plans for the hotel as the developer is seeking preliminary approval. If the board does approve the plan, it will then go to the planning committee and ultimately will be voted on by town council.

For a review of the plans and renderings of the hotel, click here.

A preliminary $26 billion settlement was announced July 21 with Johnson & Johnson and the nation’s “Big Three” opioid distributors: AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson.

If approved, many South Carolina communities could receive payments as early as the first quarter of 2022 and together would reap as much as $350 million from the drugmakers over the next two decades.

The settlement includes 3,795 communities across the country within 48 states that the opioid epidemic has impacted. Fifty-four of those 3,795 communities are from South Carolina, including Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. The settlement also includes the city of Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Summerville individually.

Joe Rice, co-founder of the Mount Pleasant law firm Motley Rice LLC, was a lead counsel for negotiations in dividing the settlement among these communities.

Rice and other counsel wanted to create a settlement that could be accepted by different local governments and would work for all of the affected communities, he wrote in a July 21 blog post.

“The agreement announced today isn’t perfect, but it is a way to provide assistance to states and subdivisions if they agree to the settlement, as well as changes in conduct for these companies regarding their handling of prescription narcotics,” Rice wrote.

The opioid distributors were accused of ignoring red flags and failing their duty to report suspicious orders and the foreseeable black market of addictive opioid drugs.

AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson have agreed to pay a total settlement amount of $21 billion over 18 years. Through the settlement, the companies would not admit any wrongdoing.

“The distributors may not admit to any wrongdoing, but they agreed to pay $21 billion,” Rice said. “You tell me if you think they’re just being generous.”

Johnson & Johnson will pay $5 billion over seven years, Rice said. The company also agreed to exit the opioid business, he said.

Rice said he supported the settlement.

“The important thing is, with the settlement, the money starts now,” Rice said. “And we need the money now. In delaying the money two to three years while trying to get a trial date, the problem is going to be so much worse. These cases are not guaranteed winners, and they are also extremely expensive.”

The settlement is subject to change and could even be scrapped altogether. States have until Aug. 21 to decide whether they will participate in the settlements. The pharmaceutical companies then have 14 days to each determine if they will proceed with the payment.

If the pharmaceutical companies proceed with the settlement, the 3,795 communities each have 120 days to decide whether they will participate in receiving their portion of the settlement. From there, the participating states and pharmaceutical companies must reaffirm their decision to proceed with the settlement.

If all communities in South Carolina were to accept the settlement, the state would receive approximately $350 million over the next two decades, Rice said. For all settlement recipients, 85 percent of the funds are restricted to abating the opioid epidemic.

“You can’t look at this as to what a small community is going to get,” he said. “These epidemics don’t stay within their zip code. We need help uniformly statewide.”

In the settlement, the companies also agree to significantly change their business operations regarding how narcotics are handled, tracked and analyzed, Rice wrote.

The settlement comes after drug dose deaths between May 2019 and 2020 increased more than 20 percent in South Carolina, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Synthetic opioid deaths, in particular, increased about 38 percent from June 2019 to May 2020.

The increases in drug overdose deaths appear to have accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, DHEC reported.

“Now, as recently confirmed by new data from the CDC, we have an opioid crisis compounded by a global pandemic, so timing is critical to get assistance to our communities,” Rice wrote in his blog post.

Aside from the settlement, other cases continue against other opioid industry defendants, including pharmacies. This proposed settlement does not resolve these cases working through the court system.

In a separate announcement, the American Medical Association urged advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a letter dated July 16 to overhaul the CDC’s current guidelines on opioid prescriptions.

The AMA holds that current restrictions are “devastating for patients with pain” and have harmed those who suffer from cancer, sickle cell disease and other painful conditions. The group also pointed out that the nation’s current opioid epidemic is no longer being driven by prescriptions, but instead by “heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and stimulants.”

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – Federal agents say, any time the government injects cash or any kind of stimulus, there will be people who take advantage of that.

COVID-19 stimulus is no exception, and the prosecution of some of those cases is underway.

South Carolinians accounted for more than 70,000 paycheck protection program (PPP) loans, for a total of about $6B. As expected, some of them are not suspected fraud.

“Sometimes the numbers just don’t add up,” said Deputy United States Attorney Derek Shoemake. He said the numbers didn’t add up for at least $12M that investigators already identified. Shoemake said they have recovered a little more than $3M of those assets.

“That’s a small number relative to the $6B, which tells us one thing, and that’s most people are doing the right thing, but when we see people doing the wrong thing we are going to come after them with the full force of our office,” said Shoemake.

Last year former U.S. Attorney Peter McCoy established the South Carolina COVID Strike Team to investigate fraud related to the pandemic.

By March, the office received more than 150 cases.

Among them, a man from Round-O who is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal personal protective equipment from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Charleston. He faces up to five years in prison.

Another case involves seven people charged with laundering more than $750,000 of fraudulently obtained money. That includes nearly $400,000 of PPP money. Two of the three suspects from South Carolina have pleaded guilty.

Lowcountry attorney David Aylor is involved in other cases related to PPP fraud and he says the SC COVID Strike Team is aggressively pursuing and prosecuting the cases. He says, in general, people thought they would get away with their crimes.

“In this situation, people thought that because of the amount throughout the United States of businesses that were going to be submitting for PPP loans that they could fly under the radar,” Aylor said.

“Sometimes it starts as a trickle,” Shoemake said. “Somebody gets 50,000 legitimate dollars, things are a little tough and they say ‘well, maybe I could just get $10,000 more to tie me over and by the time the process is complete the person has defrauded the government out of $350,000.”

Shoe make says red flags from the IRS, and other checks alert them to fraud. He also says tips from the public are a big help. If you suspect someone obtained PPP loans or any other COVID related money or equipment fraudulently you can call the COVID Strike Team’s hotline: 866-720-5721 or visit their website: https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Mount Pleasant area restaurants were helped by a federal program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

MOUNT PLEASANT, SC — The Restaurant Revitalization Fund doled out more than $28.6 billion in grants to eateries that sustained financial losses during the pandemic, including several Mount Pleasant area restaurants.

The fund was established as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of March 2021. More than 101,000 restaurants received grants as of June 30, according to the Small Business Administration. The average grant size was $283,000.

Restaurants were eligible for up to $10 million in grants, with no more than $5 million per location. Funds don't have to be repaid if they are used for eligible expenses, such as payroll or rent, through March 11, 2023.

The following Mount Pleasant area restaurants were among those that received a Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant. Check here for a full, searchable database.

Business: MCCANNS IRISH PUB LLC

Business: OAKLAND WINGS LLC

Business: SEE WEE RESTAURANT INC

Business: LIN 168 LLC

Business: SERVINGHIM LLC

Business: GOODE SUBS INC.

Business: EAST BAY DELI AT MARKETS AT OAKLAMD LLC

Business: Clay Restaurant Group LLC

Business: CHARLESTON POPS LLC

Business: TWENTYEIGHT LLC

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund received praise from industry members for its simplicity, but many applicants were shut out when funding dried up in June.

Nationwide, restaurants submitted more than 278,000 applications, totaling $72.23 billion in requested aid. Around 177,000 applicants were denied grants.

There was also confusion about prioritization of funds. The SBA originally prioritized funding for restaurants owned by women, veterans and underserved populations. Some business owners sued, and the SBA ended the practice; around 3,000 priority applicants had grants rescinded, according to The New York Times.

The restaurant industry has lost around $290 billion in sales since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the National Restaurant Association. Some 90,000 restaurants closed permanently or long-term.

The bipartisan Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act proposal would provide $60 billion in additional funding for the program if passed.

"The success of the RRF so far is, in large part, because the SBA focused on making the program simple and accessible," NRA Vice President Sean Kennedy said in a statement. "We appreciate how swiftly they were able to establish a program unlike anything they had administrated before, and believe it has the structure to sustain additional funding."

Editor's note: This post was automatically generated using data from the SBA. Feedback can be sent to [email protected].