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APRIL 9–15, 2020 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Do Lowcountry grocery stores have a supply chain problem? Bathroom tissue, bleach, Tylenol and rice among items consistently out at area stores
Several of the area’s grocery stores have been consistently out of toilet paper as well as other items such as bleach and rice. Shown here — an empty shelf that would normally be stocked with bathroom tissue. Photo by Mindy Lucas.
By Mindy Lucas Who’s got toilet paper? While it may seem like a trivial question given the current public health crisis, it continues to be a burning question among shoppers as they venture out to refurbish pan-
tries with not only bathroom tissue but other items that have become scarce as well. It’s been nearly a month since the first wave of shelf shortages occurred, and hoard-
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-19 novel With all the bars and restaurants closed because of the encroachment of the COVID Some local night. at coronavirus, Bay Street remains void of most vehicular and pedestrian traffic Photo by Bob Sofaly. restaurants are staying afloat by employing curbside pick-up for call ahead orders.
Help from the highest bidder By Mike McCombs
O
ut of work for the foreseeable future thanks to the coronavirus shutdown of Beaufort’s restaurants and bars, self-employed DJ Cathryn Miller, nonetheless, has found herself with more to do than she ever imagined. Miller, owner of Lowcountry Event Services, woke up Friday to 200 Facebook notifications and 67 Facebook messages. While it’s fair to say Miller is popular, this was about something else entirely. A little more than two weeks ago, when the state’s
restaurants and bars were shut down and prohibited from offering sit-down service as one of the steps taken to slow the spread of he COVID-19 novel coronavirus, Miller brainstormed about a way to help the food and beverage industry emCathryn ployees who Miller were suddenly without paychecks or any imminent promise of relief. What she came up with was “LOWCOUNTRY AUCTIONS for Bar, Restaurant and entertainment staff out of work.” It’s a public Facebook page, run solely by Miller, where people donate items to be auctioned. The proceeds from each individual auction are ear-
HELPING HAND
Cathryn Miller keeps track of the current auctions with a chart on her wall. Photo by Cathryn Miller. marked to a specific food and beverage or entertainment worker. “I have been in the hos-
The Island News is tracking and compiling data collected on item shortages at various stores. In addition, we’d like to hear from you on how many trips you make to find supplies or how often you’ve had to venture out for certain items. To let us know what you are seeing, message us on Facebook or email mindy@yourislandnews.com.
Beaufort’s city leaders call for shelter in place
GHOST TOWN
Facebook page auctions give lift to out-ofwork food-andbeverage workers
WANT TO HELP US KEEP TRACK?
pitality industry for most of my life and wanted to
By Mindy Lucas Beaufort’s city leaders want you to stay home as much as possible. So much so, that on Monday, April 6, city council members passed an emergency ordinance directing residents to shelter in place despite having no authority to make residents stay at home. While council members acknowledged they could not make people stay at home, members hoped to put into official language the critical nature of Beaufort’s situation. “We are concerned because we are seeing a rapid growth in our county,” said Beaufort City Manager Bill Prokop. While Beaufort County is fourth in the state with the number of positive cases, it is No. 2 in terms of the number of cases per percentage of population, Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling said. At its March 31 city council meeting, Prokop said while many residents were staying at home and observing social distancing, there were many more who were not. “We still have those who have not taken this virus as a serious medical issue and continue to ignore our requests to follow the guidelines,” he said. Prokop said there were children playing in groups of 10 to 15 on playgrounds in city parks, as well as older siblings watching younger children as young as 5. “They really don’t know what social distancing is. We, the city, cannot be babysitters,” he said. Following S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s executive order on Tuesday, March 31, which closed all non-essential businesses, entertainment venues and recreational and fitness facilities, the city closed its playgrounds at city parks on Wednesday, April 1. The governor has since issued a “stay at home” order that says if residents are not
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SENIOR STUDENT-ATHLETE SPOTLIGHTS
Community supports local health care workers with supply donations.
High school seniors are in danger of having their high school athletics careers cut short due to the pandemic.
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CORONAVIRUS UPDATE The Numbers The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) on Tuesday announced 187 new cases of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, including three additional deaths. This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 2,417, and those who have died to 51. Six new cases in Beaufort County brought the total to 169. There have been four deaths in Beaufort County. Tightening Our Belts Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order Monday directing all South Carolina residents to “remain at home or work unless visiting family, exercising or obtaining essential goods or services.” The “Home or Work” mandate took effect at 5 p.m., Tuesday and will stay in effect until the governor’s State of Emergency order is lifted. The order requires residents to limit social interaction, practice social distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines, and stay at home unless commuting for work; caring for or visiting a family member; obtaining necessary supplies and services, such as food for household consumption or medical supplies; seeking medical, behavioral health or emergency care; caring for pets; exercising outdoors or taking part in other recreational activities that adhere to social distancing guidelines; attending religious services in houses of worship; or traveling as required by law, including custody agreements. Monday’s executive order also limits the number of customers who can be inside a retail business. The governor ordered that no more than five customers per 1,000 square feet — or 20 percent of a store’s posted capacity, whichever is less — be allowed in the store at one time.
– Compiled by Mike McCombs