SC Applies For Lost Wages Assistance Grant

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, recovery efforts to salvage the economic destruction are being made. The SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), alongside Governor McMaster, plans to apply for the FEMA’s Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program. The grant will await federal approval.

“Our state should be proud of the economic recovery efforts and the progress we have made to date, but we know that some of our citizens are still struggling in the wake of this pandemic,” explains McMaster. “We’ve chosen to participate in this program in a way that will provide additional unemployment relief from the federal government while maintaining our strong record of fiscal responsibility and protecting the interests of South Carolinians.”

Gov. McMaster authorized DEW to apply toward the federal aid via a letter. The grant itself was originally made by President Donald Trump as a means of compensating those unemployed due to the ongoing pandemic. When a state’s application is accepted, an additional weekly $300 in benefits per person will be added.

“We know there are citizens who are still in great need,” explains DEW Executive Director Dan Ellzey. “DEW has been testing changes in its benefits portal based upon guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. If South Carolina is approved, we will work as quickly as possible with our vendor to get the application into the system.”

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UofSC Starts New COVID-19 Testing

As the University of South Carolina campus prepares to reopen for hybrid classes, mandatory COVID-19 testing will take place. In a few short weeks, all residents living in University Housing this fall will complete a final checklist as well as proof of testing. Clearance will not be allowed without prior information sent to the Student Health Services.

Before students arrive on campus for the first day of classes, they will be required to upload their COVID-19 testing results to the Student Health Center’s portal. This information will tell UofSC whether or not a student has previously been infected by COVID-19, is currently affected, and whether or not the student has antibodies.

On-campus testing became available Wednesday, August 19. In order to test students, faculty, and staff, a saliva-based test will be delivered. This rapid and non-invasive test allows for quick delivering results, making it an ideal choice for the school board. These daily tests will be administered with no limit in an attempt to keep the UofSC community safe.

Alongside testing, face coverings are now required in all closed spaces. Social distancing also remains in place, plus handwashing and sanitizing as well. UofSC is the only SC university to approve saliva testing for diagnostic purposes. If all goes well, it’s likely surrounding colleges will follow suit.

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The Second Round of Voluntary Layoffs Offered by Boeing Ensues

As an attempt to conserve the number of people furloughed, Boeing is now offering a second round of voluntary layoffs. This incentivized layoff offers a package to employees that opt to leave the company. Employees are said to receive payments as well as benefits.

Job cuts became necessary after Boeing discontinued the production of its best-selling jet in April of 2020. The 787 Dreamliner and 777 were both big cuts from the roster of Boeing’s jets.

The company released a statement explaining that “while we have seen signs of recovery from the pandemic, our industry and our customers continue to face significant challenges. We have taken proactive steps to adjust to the market realities and position our company for the recovery. As we continue to assess our workforce and in response to employee feedback, we will be offering a second voluntary layoff (VLO) opportunity for employees to depart the company voluntarily with a pay and benefits package.”

Back in May, Boeing furloughed 6,770 employees throughout the U.S. This decision came as a response to the mandated travel ban in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.

In reference to the second round of layoffs, CEO of Boeing Dave Calhoun told employees that it “will extend our overall workforce reductions beyond the initial 10% target and will allow more employees who want to depart the company to do so voluntarily with a pay and benefits package. Importantly, it also will help limit additional involuntary workforce actions.”

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SC Aquarium Offering Free Admission For Health Care Workers

In order to honor health care workers that have fought throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Carolina Aquarium has begun a “Healthcare Heroes Month”. Employees of Roper St. Francis, Trident Medical Center, East Cooper Medical Center, and MUSC will receive free admission from Aug. 17 – Sept. 13.

As a means of reserving your ticket, healthcare workers can call (843) 557-3474. Upon the arrival of your designated entry time, proof of employment must be provided at the admissions gate. Friends and family of healthcare workers do not apply for free entry. Those who do not can reserve a ticket here.

While SC continues to fight against Coronavirus, the South Carolina Aquarium will be working at limited capacity. Tickets must be purchased online (or via phone). Face masks are also required for all those entering the building ages 3 and up. Safety is a top priority at the Aquarium, as the staff wants to offer assurance to all guests. Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the building, and elevator access is limited to one family at a time. For more specific guidelines, please visit the SC website.

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Rabid Bat Cases Confirmed In Charleston County

Confirmed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), a bat near downtown Charleston, SC has tested positive for rabies. As of now, only two humans risk exposure to the disease. The animal was originally discovered near Ashley Avenue and Race Street.

The bat became a confirmed case of rabies on Aug 1 after testing began on July 31. Those with any inclination of exposure are urged to wash any part of their body that may have been in contact with saliva or neural tissue before seeking medical attention. Exposure ranges from bites, scratches to direct contact with any of the infected animal’s body fluids.

“Although bats can carry rabies, not every bat is infected with the virus. Bats are an important part of South Carolina’s ecosystems and deserve a healthy degree of respect just like all wild animals,” explained David Vaughan, Director of DHEC’s Onsite Waterwaste, Rabies Prevention, and Enforcement Division. “People don’t always realize they’ve been bitten since bat teeth are tiny and bites are easy to overlook.”

If you awake to find a bat in a room where people have been asleep or unattended, it’s important to safely trap the animal in a sealed container without touching it. Once a bat is released, it is no longer able to be tested for the disease.

Those with any inclination of exposure are urged to call the DHEC’s Environmental Affairs Charleston office at (843) 953-0150 during business hours of 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. To report an exposure outside of normal office hours, call the DHEC after-hours service number at (888) 847-0902.

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Trident Medical Center Completes New Medical Procedure

As the first in the Carolinas, Trident Medical Center is home to a new medical procedure. Electrophysiologist Darren Sidney, MD is the physician behind the next generation implant. Created to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with Atrial Fibrillation, Sidney successfully completed the surgery on a 71-year-old male.

Atrial Fibrillation, or AFiB for short, is a common heart disease that alters the heart’s ability to pump blood. Over 2.7 million people suffer from the quivering heartbeat that AFiB ensues. The issue behind an irregular heart pattern is that it can frequent blood clots, which cut off the air supply to the brain and in turn, lead to a stroke.

The implemented device LAAC is roughly the size of a quarter. Sidney operates once in order to implant the device. It remains completely unseen from the outside of the body. Once implanted, the device effectively reduces blood clots, eliminating the fear of a stroke occurring.

This new device is a huge step for those suffering from AFiB. With a success rate of 99% of patents no longer needing blood thinners a year post-surgery, it’s easy to say that this is a big win.

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The State Will Offer Free Virtual Teaching Instruction To Teachers

The Department of Education in SC recently decided to extend to teachers a free virtual teaching training program. This allows teachers to focus on course material rather than struggle with online technology. The effective virtual instruction seminar is being offered to over 6,000 teachers in the SC area.

As the 2020-2021 school year begins, 1,700 teachers have already signed up for the course. It will remain to be offered throughout the school year. Funding for such a program comes directly from the federal CARES Act.

As for the content of the training seminar, teachers can expect to learn a range of topics. From planning instruction to the actual delivery, the course covers all things necessary for a smooth-running virtual classroom. Each live 90-minute session is available during the evening and weekend so that teachers have all opportunity to attend.

If you’re looking to attend, sign-ups are first-come, first-serve. Registration is open for the fall of 2020, and spring semester dates are still awaiting the announcement.

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$6.3 Million Granted to SC and GA to Help Fight Veteran Homelessness

In an effort to combat Veteran homelessness, the Department of Veteran Affairs has offered a $6.3 million donation. This money is geared toward four non-profits whose main goal is to aid Veterans who are homeless. They take the form of grants for low-income Veteran families across SC and GA.

The pandemic of homeless Veterans has been a nationwide issue for several generations. This grant is hoping to quickly reduce the number of Veterans who are homeless, while also preventing any further from becoming homeless.

“This funding supports our continued efforts to work with the community to end Veteran homelessness, a top priority for the Department of Veterans Affairs and our hospital,” explained Charleston VAMC Director Scott Isaacks.

The program overseeing the project is the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). They operate to serve over 105,156 individuals, which includes 70,524 Veterans and 20,608 children across the nation. As a rule of thumb, the organization acts to aid Veterans with housing solutions, health care, community employment services, and other required supports.

For more information regarding the SSVF and their plans for the SC and GA grant, visit their website.