Any plan for reopening economy in pandemic must have this element | Letters

With all the talk recently about “reopening” our economy, it is good to see various plans being put forward to minimize risk as we do so.

But all of the proposed plans that I have seen lack a very important aspect to ensure the safety of the public: There needs to be clear, concise metrics that can be used to determine if the danger from the pandemic is increasing, along with specific, unambiguous and binding actions to be taken if the metric’s standards are exceeded.

No plan should be adopted without this important element.

Brian McWilliams

Hilton Head Island

‘Keep an open mind’: SC economic restart a complex task for governor’s advisory group

Gov. Henry McMaster has created an advisory group called accelerateSC to consider and recommend economic revitalization plans for South Carolina in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I was appointed to serve on the group’s board, and we held our first meeting last Thursday; additional meetings are being held every day this week. There’s a very strong sense of urgency and a bias toward action.

In my 17 years of service in state government, this is by far the most consequential task I’ve been charged with, and the most complex.

My approach in such things has always been to state the problem and propose solutions, and then to debate them with others – the “Socratic method” instilled by my law school professors. This approach always works if I keep an open mind.

I’ve done this with my constituents via several hundred emails back and forth and in as many telephone calls, and that’s made me a more effective member of accelerateSC.

I also constantly review the data and the opinions of a wide range of public health experts; however, since those opinions and the data sets relied upon vary, sometimes widely, the task of deciding the best approach for South Carolina remains.

It is a privilege to represent the people of Beaufort and Jasper counties in the state Senate and to speak on their behalf as the advisory group considers and recommends a “reopening” approach. I am determined to get this right, and I am confident we will.

State Sen. Tom Davis

Beaufort

Bluffton needs mask ordinance

I would like the community to be reminded that there is still time to voice your opinion for a mask ordinance since it will be discussed at a working session of the Bluffton Town Council this Thursday at 6 p.m. and the meeting can be watched live.

It is important to know that council member Larry Toomer should officially recuse himself from the vote and discussion since his wife is the owner of a retail store. That is the right thing to do.

Without a mask ordinance, many residents will not shop or resume pre-virus store visits since the virus can be spread by those not wearing masks. We all should be interested in protecting each other and help to end the spread in our area.

This is not political ... it is about public safety and that issue should be utmost in our minds.

Please think and plan for the long-term health and prosperity of Bluffton.

Marie Kowalchuk

Bluffton

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