The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is reporting a COVID-19 death in an elderly individual in Marlboro County on Sunday, Aug. 16.
This is the fifth COVID-19 death in the county.
Ten new cases of COVID-19 were also confirmed, which brings the case count to 540 cases. There are 101 active cases in the county.
Statewide, there are 105,466 cases and 2,165 deaths. DHEC also reported 537 new cases in the state.

On Thursday, students at Marlboro Academy returned to school campuses for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to shut down in-person instruction in mid-March. The 262 students had a first day back with masks, temperature checks and social distancing. Above, Regina Lackey, administrative assistant, checks the temperature of a student. At right, Headmaster Joe Critcher greeted students as they arrived by bus.
 

As Marlboro County School District officials prepare for the upcoming Learn, Evaluate, Analyze and Prepare (LEAP) days on Aug. 24-28, they are also preparing for the safety of students, teachers and staff. 
Last month, board members approved Sept. 2 as the first day of school.
All students in grades 4K-12, even those enrolled in the Virtual Academy, must be involved in LEAP days. Students will be brought back on a staggered schedule for teachers to do assessments and for devices to be distributed.
At the recent Board of Education meeting, Chief Officer of Auxiliary Services Herbert McNeil shared about the purchase of personal protective equipment.
“This isn’t a cheap venture to take care of these kids but you can’t put a price on no one’s health,” he said.

Marlboro County and Sandhill Telephone Cooperative officials are working on funding to improve broadband access in the area.
County Administrator Ron Munnerlyn updated council members Tuesday night at their monthly meeting.
Marlboro County is ranked the worst of all the counties in the state in regards to broadband access. 
Officials are working on an application to the South Carolina Broadband Infrastructure Program. The program was created to provide high-speed broadband internet access to unserved South Carolinians who have been directly impacted by COVID-19. 
Impacted communities or households are those hindered in their ability to respond to the challenges of COVID-19 due to a lack of broadband (as defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standard of 25/3 Mbps download/upload speeds), thus limiting access to online learning, healthcare via telehealth and limiting one’s ability to work from home.

A cheerleader at Marlboro County High School has tested positive for COVID-19, Marlboro County School District officials said in a statement on Tuesday.
District officials, who were notified on Tuesday, said they have disinfected all areas that they believe the cheerleaders may have been present and all practices have been canceled until further notice.
Although all social distancing precautions were in place, school officials have notified the parents of all students involved with the cheerleading squads. 
Each has been notified to take the necessary quarantine protocols as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Everyone is encouraged to continue to follow the guidelines of social distancing, constant and consistent washing of the hands, and wearing a mask at all times when possible. 
Officials said they will continue to do all that they can to ensure the safety of the students and staff but will need the support of the community.