COVID-19

Columbia Extends Mask Mandate, May Increase Fines

The Columbia City Council voted to extend their mask ordinance within city limits for another two months. The mask ordinance will now end on April 4th – unless the council votes to extend it again.

The Columbia City Council is also considering strengthening the consequences of individuals who do not comply with the ordinance.

During the weekend of January 23rd, over 100 citations were issued to individuals who were not wearing a face mask. Those citations carry a fine of $100, a fee that may be increased in the near future.

According to the ordinance, “…Face coverings which cover the nose and mouth shall be required in all public places within the City. All persons entering a commercial establishment in the City must wear a face covering while inside the establishment. A face covering must also be worn in situations where distances between people change frequently such as a busy sidewalk, waiting area, or popular outdoor area where it is impractical or impossible to maintain six feet of distance at all times…”

A decision on whether or not to increase the fine for not wearing a mask is set to be made during the next council meeting on February 16.

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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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Clemson University Forced To Furlough Employees

Clemson University recently announced they would have to furlough thousands of employees, as a result of the vast financial impacts of the ongoing pandemic.

The furlough began on September 1st and will continue until the end of 2020. The mandatory furlough program will impact at least half of Clemson’s full-time employees across the state of South Carolina.

Approximately 3,022 employees will be furloughed for a combined total of 10,873 days. Employees who are furloughed will still receive healthcare, retirement, and any other benefits.

According to Clemson University, “Contracted employees who are not mandatory participants in the furlough program will take a pay reduction equivalent to their comparable salary bracket in the mandatory furlough program.”

In addition to the current furlough, the university is also in a hiring freeze.

Some Clemson employees, including President Clements and athletic employees, have taken a voluntary pay cut of at least 10 percent in reduced compensation.

This mandatory furlough highlights the ongoing financial struggles of individuals, organizations, and institutions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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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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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.