Daufuskie Island community on coronavirus lockdown as ferry service restricted
A 1,000-acre private community on Daufuskie Island, accessible only by boat, is restricting all guest access and instituting quarantine procedures after a member was tested for COVID-19.
The measures put in place at Haig Point are some of the strictest imposed in a private Beaufort County gated community and came just before the island’s public ferry service announced it will reduce daily trips starting Wednesday.
Daufuskie residents report cancelled vacation rentals and shuttered local businesses, as the coronavirus outbreak has meant fewer visitors to the island, just south of Bluffton and Hilton Head.
Leaders have discussed restricting access to the island to residents, as officials in North Carolina’s Outer Banks did last week and a coalition of Hilton Head residents have called for in a petition that has garnered around 4,000 signatures.
“It’s very, very difficult on small businesses here,” said Deborah Smith, owner of the Daufuskie Rental Group, which has had to reschedule many reservations. Residents are “hunkered down,” she said.
.jpg "Daufuskie Island (5).jpg")
No ‘safe haven’ on Daufuskie
In a notice to members dated Sunday, the board of The Haig Point Club and Community Association announced a slew of new restrictions meant to “assist our healthcare system and protect the community at large.”
The letter said access would be restricted to members and their families. It also imposed a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone who arrived in the community during the past two weeks or who leaves Beaufort County and returns.
“Acting as if this island is a safe haven is simply not realistic,” the notice read.
On Sunday, Haig Point CEO Doug Egly confirmed in an emailed statement that a member had been tested for the coronavirus and was isolated at home. “We were able to trace the few people that this person may have been in the vicinity of and notified them immediately. They, too, have agreed to quarantine,” Egly said.
Asked Tuesday if Haig Point would announce the member’s test results, Vice President of Sales and Marketing Adam Martin said the community would follow guidance from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The exclusive community requires members pay about $6,800 in annual fees, according to Hilton Head Properties.
On Monday, Egly told members in a letter that the community is “assembling a team of member volunteers to assist those quarantined” and a task force of medical professionals to advise the board and management.
“When you think about the ‘sacrifices’ we are being asked to make, they seem insignificant in the face of this crisis and its potential to devastate our community,” wrote the board to members on Sunday.
Contacted Tuesday, Martin said he had no further comment on the restrictions and that Haig Point will continue to follow guidance from officials.
.JPG "Daufuskie Island (7).JPG")
Non-resident ferry ban discussed
Over the past two weeks, the Daufuskie Island Council has discussed the possibility of limiting ferry access to island residents, said Vice-Chair John Schartner. The council, in consultation with county officials, determined this wasn’t possible because the ferry is public transportation.
Without direction from S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster or the state Department of Transportation, Schartner said the ferry couldn’t be restricted to island residents.
Starting Wednesday, the ferry will cut its operations in half, running only two round-trip journeys each day, according to a Beaufort County news release. The Friday evening trip is also cancelled until further notice, the release said.
Schartner said the problem of tourists potentially spreading the virus has all but “corrected itself” because statewide social distancing measures have cut visitation from about 50 people a day a few weeks ago to just a handful a day.
“Most everybody’s shut down,” said Chase Allen, a metal sculptor on the island. Residents said businesses that rent golf cars, often used to get around the island, are closed, as is the local coffee shop.
With no certainty on when things will return to normal, it’s a tough time for local business-owners, said Smith. “We are heavily dependent on visitors to the island,” she said.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
