The Covid pandemic shut down Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and the entire State of S.C.
The Federal Government paid S.C. $2.7 billion in federal COVID-19 relief in 2022.
The U.S. Energy Department has now concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic was most likely caused by a laboratory leak, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, though National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said there is “not a definitive answer” on the virus’ genesis.
The FBI also came to that same conclusion in 2021, stating with “moderate confidence” the virus came from a lab leak, however, that information was not disclosed to the public at large.
COVID shut down a $8.96 billion industry
The economy of South Carolina was ranked the 25th largest in the United States based on gross domestic product in 2022. Tourism produced $8.96 billion of that revenue which is centered around Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Hilton Head Island. Real Estate is the state’s largest industry, followed by tourism, which is the state’s second largest industry.
The state’s other major economic sector is advanced manufacturing located primarily in the Upstate and the Lowcountry.
The entire tourism industry was shut down for over a month. The industry was devastated by diminished air traffic, closed restaurants, closed bars, attractions, and mask mandate requirements.