March 30, 2020
We can’t stress it enough. To flatten the curve, everyone must stay home as much as possible.
Please, stay home. Go out only for essentials. Keep a distance of six feet between you and others when you do go out.
A big THANK YOU to all the nurses, doctors, health aides, health support staff, EMTs, firefighters and police officers who truly are on the front lines here – you are all rock stars!
THE NUMBERS: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 continues to climb quickly in South Carolina. As of Monday afternoon, there are 925 confirmed cases with 74 in Beaufort County, and 18 deaths in the state. Sadly, Beaufort County had its first death, an elderly person with underlying conditions. See press release. See DHEC map showing where cases are. DHEC’s main page.
CITY OF BEAUFORT: City Council will have a special meeting tomorrow, March 31, electronically via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be streamed on Facebook Live. City offices are closed to the public to protect our employees and our residents. Many of our employees are working from home. They are answering phone calls and emails during business hours. This press release has more information.
Our building and code inspectors are continuing to work in the field. Please stay 6 feet away from the inspector, or stay in your car until the inspection is done. Thank you!
Waterfront Park playground will be closed for 24 hours on Wednesday, April 1, to allow the Greenery to spray for fire ants.
Remember, under the governor’s directive, no groups larger than three people are allowed to congregate in public spaces (except for immediate families).
BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: The hospital has set up a screening tent in the parking lot next to its emergency room for patients with mild fever and respiratory complaints. This will allow the hospital to test these patients while protecting ER patients without these symptoms from exposure. Details can be found here. Beaufort Memorial primary care doctors will now see most patients via telemedicine. Read more here.
The hospital explains how it continues to prepare for more cases here.
If you are interested in making donations to the hospital please go to www.beaufortmemorial.org/covid19support for a list of needed items, as well as how and where to donate them. Go to Beaufort Memorial Hospital’s website for the latest information on what you should do if you believe you have symptoms.
HELPING EACH OTHER: Beaufort County is keeping an up-to-date list on non-profits that provide help for those in need, including food pantries. Find it here.
The Community Foundation of the Low Country has begun a COVID-19 Response Fund to rapidly deploy resources to community-based, frontline nonprofit organizations addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton and Colleton counties. It is seeded with $100,000 and the foundation is challenging the community to match it.
BUSINESS RESOURCES: The Beaufort County Regional Chamber of Commerce has a Coronavirus Resource Center devoted to resources for businesses in our community and suggestions on how we can safely support those businesses. Find it here.
Beaufort County also has a list of business resources. Find it here.
Congressman Joe Cunningham has a list of federal, state and local resources for small businesses. Find it here.
Law firm Gignilliat, Savitz & Bettis, LLP has prepared a resource page for South Carolina employers that includes regulatory and unemployment information. This Families First Coronavirus Response Act FAQ is from the U.S. Department of Labor.
RESTAURANTS, ETC: Beaufort Curbside To Go & Delivery Facebook page has the latest on our many restaurants and how we can support them (safely!)
The Beaufort CVB (Visit Beaufort, Port Royal & the Sea Islands) has a page devoted to updates on events (many canceled); interactive maps, etc. Find it here.
BAHA (Beaufort Area Hospitality Association) has a Facebook page where it is posting jobs. As we know, many of those in the hospitality industry (wait staff, chefs, tour operators, etc.,) are hurting right now. If you know of job opportunities, please send to BAHA. Find it here. BAHA also has a resource page. Find it here.
BAHA has also set up a #SAVEYOURFAVES for #LATERDAYS to get the word out on local restaurants and businesses that offer gift cards for purchase on their websites or by calling the business. Purchase a gift card from one of your favorite local restaurants or double #GIVE by purchasing one and gifting to a local first responder, police officer, nurse or healthcare staff, or anyone directly working to help us fight this devastating virus. Website w/participating Locations: https://bit.ly/3dthmjX
TALKING TO YOUR KIDS: There are many sites that have suggestions from experts about how to talk to your children during this unsettling time. Here are a few: KidsHealth; PBS; CDC.
HEALTHY LIVING TIPS: Have your kids (or you!) check out these cams from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and San Diego Zoo. The zoo and aquarium are closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the sea life and animal life virtually. Also great for kids: illustrator Wendy MacNaughton’s #DrawTogether live class on her Instagram page at 1 p.m. M-F. https://ww.instagram.com/wendymac/
BIKING: If you are using the Spanish Moss Trail, make sure you keep your social distance of 6 feet and keep your group to no more than three people.
ONLINE EXERCISE: A big thank you to the local exercise and yoga studios, as well as the YMCA, for offering online classes and videos. Find them on this Facebook post.
Remember, you can’t wash your hands too much! Keep your distance, but smile and say hi to your neighbor when you pass them on the street. We’ll get through this! #togetherbft