covid 19 pandemic

Curbside Sale of Beer and Wine Could Become Permanent

The COVID-19 pandemic has indefinitely changed the way we do a lot of things. Could curbside pickup of beer and wine be permanently added to that list?

The case was made to keep curbside pickup of beer and wine, which was initially approved in March of 2020 through an emergency order from Governor Henry McMaster, during a recent S.C. House Judiciary subcommittee meeting.

Now more than ever, customers are taking advantage of curbside pickup orders for groceries and other necessities, so retailers and restaurants want to continue to meet those needs and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Some individuals are insisting certain restrictions be added to the bill – including only having employees aged 21 and over who are trained at identifying underage individuals be allowed to make the curbside sales.

Another bill was also introduced in the subcommittee meeting that would permit counties or cities in South Carolina to create a binding referendum on the sale of liquor on Sundays.

While neither bill was voted on, the subcommittee is expected to vote on them both during their next meeting.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Available For Residents Aged 70 and Over

As of January 13th, South Carolina residents aged 70 and older are officially eligible to begin scheduling their appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is assisting qualifying individuals in their search of vaccination sites.

Over 67 percent of COVID-19 related deaths in South Carolina have been amongst individuals over the age of 70 so officials are eager to get as many people vaccinated as possible.

Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC Interim Director of Public Health, explained the state’s decision to begin vaccinating this portion of the population saying, “Based on current data, the mortality rate from COVID-19 for those 70 and older in South Carolina is approximately 655 deaths per 100,000 individuals. For those under the age of 70, there are approximately 37 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 individuals. This is a staggering comparison and illustrates why vaccinating this population next is critically important in our mission to save lives.”

There are no required pre-existing conditions that an individual needs to have in order to receive their vaccine – as long as they are a South Carolina resident aged 70 or older, they can schedule their vaccination appointment.

DHEC has created an online map showing the locations that are currently accepting vaccination appointments throughout the state. They are also assisting individuals in finding vaccination locations through their Care Line at 1-855-472-3432.

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South Carolina Already Has Record-Breaking Voter Turnout

Records are already being shattered across the country when it comes to voter turnout in the 2020 General Election.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all South Carolinians are eligible to vote early – an option that many South Carolinians are taking advantage of.

According to the South Carolina Election Commission, as of Monday, October 26th, 558,000 South Carolinians had voted in-person and 346,000 mail-in ballots had been returned.

Compared to the 2016 General Election, where 2.1 million votes were tallied in South Carolina, it seems as though the state is on track to surpass their previous voter turnout rates.

A total of 1,021,000 ballots have already been issued to South Carolinians – almost double the number of ballots issued in the 2016 election.

With these large numbers of people voting early, it is no surprise some voters are having to wait in line for hours on end. However, polling centers are still taking the proper precautions to protect early voters and limit the spread of the pandemic.

Looking to vote early in South Carolina? Click here to find your polling location.