COVID-19 Briefs
EMERGENCY ORDER EXTENDED: Gov. Henry McMaster has extended his State of Emergency order. This is the fourth state of emergency McMaster has issued for the COVID-19 pandemic.
“South Carolina continues to fight this deadly virus with every asset and resource available,” said McMaster. “While we are making progress, we must remain vigilant with expanding prevention and testing efforts.
“Our state is also facing an economic disruption and emergency the likes of which we’ve never seen, and we are working tirelessly to get our businesses back up and running and our people back to work as soon and as safely as possible.”
The governor’s “stay home or be at work” order is separate from the State of Emergency, and it has now been lifted.
DMV UPDATE: Starting this week, the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) will expand operations by reopening all 66 branch offices to increase convenience for customers. The additional office openings will allow the SCDMV to service more customers on a daily basis while still adhering to social distancing recommendations. All offices will operate by appointment only, which can be scheduled on the SCDMV website at SCDMVonline.com.
All SCDMV branch offices, with the exception of Allendale and McCormick locations, will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Allendale and McCormick locations will continue to be open only on Wednesdays during this shift in operations.
TRINITY-BYRNES TO REMAIN CLOSED: Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School in Darlington County is following Gov. McMaster’s mandate that schools remain closed for the academic year.
Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate, which transitioned to Distant Learning in March, will continue to conduct classes virtually through the end of the spring semester.
Families have found the transition to online learning has not diminished the standard or quality of instruction students are receiving, the school says. Students have continued to attend class lectures, complete homework and projects electronically while at home through Google Classroom.
FREE MEALS: The Darlington County Council on Aging will be providing emergency meals to seniors 60 and older during the coronavirus crisis. Meals will be available for drive-through pickup at Council on Aging locations throughout Darlington County from 10 a.m. to noon each Tuesday.
Seniors will be provided a box of free meals, on a first-come, first-served basis, at Hartsville, Darlington, Lamar and Society Hill. Check out Facebook or call 843-393-8521.
Seniors, family members or a caregiver may pick up meals by providing the senior’s ID and required information. You must be a senior citizen (60-plus) or taking the meal to a senior citizen; you must be a resident of Darlington County; you must provide name, address, phone number and a nutrition survey at time of pickup; two meal boxes per car; individuals are only permitted one pick-up per week. Each eligible senior must provide a state-issued ID to receive a box.
Locations: Darlington Fitness World, 1032 Pearl St.; Hartsville Senior Center, 1103 S. Sixth St., Butler Building; Lamar Nutrition Center, 628 Carterville Highway, Robert L. Grooms Building; Society Hill Nutrition Community Center, 223 Hall St.
COMPILED
BY BOBBY BRYANT