Beaufort Co. unemployment soars, hotel occupancy plummets: Thursday’s coronavirus news
Here’s what you need to know Thursday about coronavirus in Beaufort and Jasper counties:
1. Law enforcement is keeping up presence on beaches and adding sandbars and waterways in an effort to disperse groups as coronavirus worsens.
2. Three new cases of coronavirus were reported in Beaufort County Thursday, bringing the county total to 29.
3. Town governments across the county are meeting Thursday and Friday to ask Gov. Henry McMaster to issue a stay-at-home order for the state of South Carolina. Other municipalities, including Charleston and Savannah, have issued shelter-in-place orders for their own cities, but Beaufort County towns have declined to move forward on their own and are awaiting direction from the governor. Hilton Head’s Town Council is meeting virtually at 2 p.m. Thursday.
4. 1,090 Beaufort County residents applied for unemployment last week, as claims across the state increased by 1,600%.
5. Hilton Head’s hotels are about 90% empty, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce officials said Wednesday. They reported the grim occupancy rates as Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann reversed course Wednesday to say tourists shouldn’t come to the island.
6. Beaufort County EMS, fire and police departments received medical masks and gowns from the national stockpile last Friday, and could receive more at the end of this week.
7. As families face job loss, school closures and isolation because of the COVID-19 outbreak, South Carolina is denying full mental health coverage to the nearly 1 million low-income residents insured through Medicaid, many of them children.
8. Beaufort County hospitals do not have the beds to treat about 13,000 people who could contract the virus in the county, according to a Harvard study. While local hospitals say they’re prepared, all have declined to provide details about how they could handle an influx of COVID-19 patients.
9. While no coronavirus deaths have been reported in Beaufort County, a Camden lobbyist’s death has hit home for one prominent Hilton Head family.
10. Numerous law enforcement officers and paramedics throughout Beaufort County have been forced into quarantine as a precaution through contact on the job. That’s raising concerns about maintaining appropriate staffing levels for emergency services. Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue is reducing its contact with patients on medical calls due to coronavirus.
Although information spreads quickly on social media platforms such as Facebook, NextDoor and Twitter, be sure to keep an eye on www.islandpacket.com for fact-checked, verified information about COVID-19.
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Here’s the most up-to-date information:
COVID-19 Cases
What’s the latest with coronavirus in Beaufort and Jasper counties?
Three additional cases were announced on Thursday in Beaufort County, bringing the total to 29. There are now 456 cases of the virus statewide.
One of the coronavirus patients lives in Sun City Hilton Head, an email from the community’s board of directors said last week. Two are Marines on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island who tested positive last week, the base announced Tuesday.
A total of nine people have died from the virus in S.C., DHEC announced Thursday.
The first confirmed case in Jasper County was announced by DHEC on Tuesday, after being listed on the agency’s map of confirmed cases Sunday.
After the first positive case was announced, Jasper County Emergency Services said it will still respond to all calls for service, but the agency has implemented a screening questionnaire.
“This is intended to assist responders identifying an increased potential encounter of persons that may have COVID-19. These questions assist responders in determining the use of additional protective equipment. This equipment is designed to increase protection for the responders; and reduce potential spread to the public,” a news release said.
Hospitals
DHEC and area hospitals, including Beaufort Memorial, Hilton Head and Coastal Carolina, have refused to answer questions about age and location of people who’ve tested positive or how they were exposed to the virus.
The hospitals have ended visitation and rescheduled elective surgeries, following orders from SC. Gov. Henry McMaster last week.
Beaufort Memorial is asking those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms to call ahead before coming to the hospital and has made its telehealth service free for those with respiratory symptoms. It is operating a drive-thru specimen collection site for coronavirus testing for those with doctor’s orders.
Hilton Head Hospital has posted a COVID-19 assessment tool on its website.
Schools
Beaufort County School District will remain closed through the end of April, according to a Tuesday afternoon announcement from Gov. Henry McMaster and State Superintendent Molly Spearman. Previously, schools were closed through the end of March.
The U.S. Department of Education approved South Carolina’s assessment and accountability testing waiver due to coronavirus closures, state officials announced Monday.
As a result, none of the following assessment programs will be administered for spring 2020: SC READY (English language arts and mathematics in grades 3–8); SCPASS (science in grades 4 and 6); End-of-Course Examination Program (English, Algebra, Biology, United States History and the Constitution) the requirement that these examinations count 20 percent has been waived; Prekindergarten assessments; and Alternate Assessments.
University of South Carolina Beaufort and Technical College of the Lowcountry are closing campuses and holding classes online for the rest of the spring semester. TCL will remain online-only through July, and will hold their spring commencement ceremony digitally.
How can I help my neighbors in Beaufort County and beyond?
A number of local organizations are in extra need of help during the coronavirus crisis. Here’s a list of ways to help by donating money, food, supplies or time. The list includes some unusual ways to donate, like a smoked ham fundraiser and restaurant VIP package.
With schools and churches closed, the normal avenues for consistent donations have dried up. Beaufort County food banks are still operating but leaning on community donations and seeking grants to meet the need.
“There’s more demand than supply,” said Lili Coleman, executive director of Second Helpings on Hilton Head Island. “We are asking agencies and clients and anyone needing food to only take what they need.”
Where can I go if I need help?
Here’s a list of local groups lending a hand to those in need.
Tourism impact
New dire numbers show the destructive impact of coronavirus on the tourism industry on Hilton Head Island, which brings an estimated $1.48 billion to the local economy each year.
Hotel occupancy rates - the percentage of total rooms filled - is sitting at a low of 10% on the island and 15% statewide, according to Bill Miles, president and CEO of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.
Miles told Beaufort County officials on a call Wednesday morning that the virus is hurting island tourism, with only about 500-550 total guests staying in hotels on the island currently.
Based on traffic numbers from Tuesday compared with the same date in 2018, there are 61 percent fewer vehicles crossing the bridge onto Hilton Head from Bluffton, according to data from the S.C. Department of Transportation.
That matches the overall decline in visitors the island is seeing as more of them stay home to quarantine and are discouraged to vacation here by local officials.
Hilton Head to meet
Beaches closed
Town of Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann announced Friday that all public beach access points would be closed for 60 days. Town beach parking lots were also closed. The move was highly criticized by residents who said the closure of public access only hurts locals, while most visitors had private beach access the town could not restrict
Hunting Island State Park are closed Wednesday and Thursday along with other S.C. parks while state officials assess the potential effects of coronavirus. The park will reopen Friday.
Sands Beach in Port Royal is closed to vehicles but will remain open to golf carts and people on foot.
Sandbar party?
As access to Hilton Head Island’s beaches was restricted, there were reports of people jumping in boats and congregating on sandbars throughout Beaufort County.
Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling said there was a “Water Festival like Party” on one sandbar near Beaufort and called the actions of those who attended “selfish” and lacking restraint.
Increased police
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday it had increased its presence on Hilton Head Beaches after hearing of gatherings of large groups — prohibited by S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus
Hunting Island
Hours after S.C. State Parks said it will be closing all locations on Wednesday and Thursday, it announced visitors can no longer make reservations for cabins or campgrounds through May 7. Any reservation already made will be honored. Previously, Hunting Island park manager J.W. Weatherford said there had been an increase in camping cancellations at the park.
Beaufort County offices closed
Starting Monday, all Beaufort County government buildings are closed to the public “to protect the health of citizens, visitors, and employees, and minimize opportunities to spread COVID-19 in our community,” the county announced on Sunday.
Residents can contact specific offices online, over the phone or through the mail. For a list of departments, visit the county’s website and select “Government.”
This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 4:29 PM.