| The Greenville News and Independent Mail
Note: The coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly developing event and this story contains information that has only been updated through May 13, 2020. Some of the information here may have changed due to the nature of the pandemic; updates are reflected in more current stories. For the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak and its impact in South Carolina, visit greenvillenews.com or independentmail.com.
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Parole and pardon hearings resume virtually next month
Parole and pardon hearings postponed since April will resume using video conferencing next month.
Almost 175 inmates were notified that their hearings, scheduled between April 2 and June 1, were rescheduled about seven weeks later.
Read the story.
Prisma Health adds test events from the COVID-19 community
Prisma Health is scheduled to host COVID-19 community test events in Taylors, Seneca and Columbia on Friday and Saturday, May 15-16, according to a press release.
People will be tested for active infections and the results should appear within four days. You do not need a medical order or consultation to get tested. The test will be performed regardless of the ability to pay. Spanish-speaking Prisma Health team members will be at all test sites.
Upstate:
- Friday, May 15, from 10 am to 2 pm at Brook Glenn Elementary School, 2003 E. Lee Road, Taylors 29687
- Saturday, May 16, 10 am – 2 pm at Blue Ridge Elementary School, 995 S. Oak St., Seneca 29678
Midlands:
- Friday, May 15, 10 am – 2 pm at Watkins-Nance Elementary School, 2525 Barhamville Road, Columbia 29204
- Saturday, May 16, 10 am – 2 pm at Watkins-Nance Elementary School, 2525 Barhamville Road, Columbia 29204
Other sites are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Simpsonville City resumes normal time next week
On Monday, the city of Simpsonville will resume normal business hours, according to an email from a city spokesman.
The Activity and Elderly Center and other buildings will be open from 8 am to 5 pm, according to national guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Center’s senior programming remains suspended.
“Closing the city hall and other buildings was a difficult decision, but it had to be taken to protect public health, especially the health of the most vulnerable,” said Dianna Gracely, city administrator, in a prepared statement. “The city is ready to return to normal safely and continue to serve residents and visitors.”
While the city is returning to normal operating hours, social distance measures will remain in place and people should stay two meters away, use hand hygiene stations and use facial cover when possible.
The public is invited to conduct business over the phone and online as much as possible.
City parks, including Alder, City, College Street and Heritage and Dog Spot, opened in April. Playgrounds, bathrooms and shelters will remain closed.
COVID-19 cases are among 8,000 in the latest DHEC report
State health officials on Wednesday reported 133 new cases of COVID-19 and seven additional deaths.
Since the beginning of March, 8,030 people in South Carolina have tested positive for COVID-19 and 362 people with the disease have died.
One of the seven people who died recently was a middle-aged person from Greenville County.
South Carolina extends state of emergency
South Carolina’s state of emergency was extended for another 15 days, according to an order signed on Tuesday by Governor Henry McMaster.
The state of emergency allows the governor to issue restrictions on public activities in response to COVID-19. The last order mentions the continuous spread of COVID-19, the impact of the disease on the elderly population in the state and the need for generalized contact screening and testing.
On the same day that McMaster signed the order, the South Carolina Senate voted 17 to 16 to pass a non-binding resolution stating that the state of emergency declared by the governor cannot last more than 15 days without “express consent” from state legislators.
The resolution, which sparked a long debate on Tuesday, was introduced by Senator Richard Cash, a Republican from Powdersville.
Governor signs voting measure without excuse
On Wednesday, Governor Henry McMaster signed a bill allowing anyone in South Carolina to vote absent in the June 9 state primaries and the subsequent second rounds. The General Assembly voted on Tuesday to approve the measure.
Bob Jones University cancels summer camps
Bob Jones University’s EDUcamp, EDUcamp Jr. and Bruins sports camp programs were canceled this summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a university statement.
“In order to protect the health and safety of our university family, as well as our campers, we are canceling our popular summer camp programs for 2020,” said BJU President Steve Pettit in a prepared statement. “With this decision, we can focus our attention on providing a safe, healthy and robust campus experience for our students this fall.”
Campers who signed up for the programs will receive a full refund, according to the statement.
Mast General in Greenville to reopen on May 18
The Mast General Store in Greenville will reopen on May 18, according to a statement from the company based in Valle Crucis, NC.
“The safety and well-being of our customers and employees are the foundation of our plans,” said Lisa Cooper, president of the store family. “We are reopening slowly, carefully and moderately to create a warm and safe atmosphere. “
The reopenings will follow restrictions on individual states and adequate protocols and materials will be in place to keep employees and guests safe, according to the statement.
The company will conduct daily health examinations for employees, increase cleaning and sanitation, require facial coverings for employees, distance employees and guests, reduce occupancy and opening hours.
With a $ 15.7 million grant, Christ Church Episcopal School obtained a PPP loan for small businesses
The richest and most prestigious private elementary and high school in Greenville, Christ Church Episcopal School, obtained a loan through the federal government’s Check Payment Protection Program, and the school plans to use much of the money to pay its bills. 200 officials, officials said.
The Church of Christ declined to say how much it received through the program.
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Greenville Library finalizing reopening plan, with no set date
The Greenville County Library System is finalizing its reopening plans, although a date for reopening has yet to be set.
The library system closed all facilities in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As part of the reopening plan, system officials are discussing additional precautions for accepting returned materials safely, as well as possible sidewalk service to collect requested items, according to Beverly James, Executive Director.
James said that a date for when these services will be available is not yet known.
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Country chefs and restaurant owners share visions of the food industry of the future
Now that restaurants have reopened with limited indoor meals after being closed for eight weeks, we asked people close to the local food scene what they thought about the future of restaurants, eating out and what changes customers can expect.
Hear a dozen country chefs
As SC reopens, tour companies struggle to adjust
Since mid-March, the pandemic has forced dozens of Jocassee Lake Tours customers to cancel their tours, resulting in a $ 50,000 loss in sales, estimated Brooks Wade.
Their story is not unique in Pickens and Oconee counties, where small businesses and restaurant owners struggle to stay afloat as Clemson University tourists and visitors have disappeared because of the pandemic.
Since state parks reopened on May 1 and the owners of Jocassee Lake Tours have received a loan from the Payroll Protection Program for the third round of federal funding to stimulate coronavirus, business has improved.
But the restrictions on social distance mean that they can take their walks on the lake with only 50% of the capacity.
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Process: COVID-19 will spread in and out of SC prisons without further work
The National Guard is available to help monitor detainees and routinely check body temperature, but lawsuits filed against the state Department of Corrections claim that more must be done to slow the spread of COVID-19 inside and outside SC prisons. .
In the past three weeks, at least three lawsuits have been filed against DOC, as at least 62 employees and 50 prisoners have been infected with COVID-19 and three deaths have been attributed to the virus.
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Greenville YMCA to reopen facility on May 18
The Greenville YMCA will reopen its facilities on Monday, according to state and CDC guidelines for operation, according to a statement from the organization.
The reopening plan includes services and limited hours, in order to help the team maintain the cleanliness of the facilities and recommendations for social distance.
The following facilities will open on May 18, with group exercise classes restarted on May 20: Caine Halter Family YMCA, Eastside Family YMCA, George I. Theisen Family YMCA, Prisma Health Family YMCA, Verdae YMCA, YMCA Program Center ( Beast mode only)
Most hours are Monday to Friday, from 5 am to 7:30 pm; Verdae will be open from 7 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm
On Saturdays, these facilities will be open from 8 am to 4 pm and on Sundays all facilities will be closed.
The pool hours will be from 6 am to 8 am, from 11 am to 1 pm and from 5 pm to 7 pm just for back swimming.
The pool hours on Saturday are from 8 am to noon.
The showers will be closed, so plan accordingly.
The YMCA asks customers to bring a mask, a training towel and a bottle of water.
For more information, visit the YMCA website.