June 29, 2020 -- 7:00 pm
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COVID-19 Data
Since our last update, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the State of South Carolina has continued to grow at an alarming rate. Just 3 weeks ago, the state was experiencing an average of more than 400 new cases per day over the preceding 7 days. Over the last week, however, that number has jumped threefold to an average of more than 1,200 cases per day. While testing has increased over the intervening weeks, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) has noted a significant increase in the percentage of tests coming back positive, as well as a dramatic rise in hospitalizations, both of which indicate the presence of community spread.
 
According to SCDHEC, there have been more than 3,600 confirmed cases in Charleston County and 177 in the 29455 Zip Code, which contains Seabrook, Kiawah and Johns Islands. Many have asked how many cases have been confirmed on Seabrook Island. The short answer is: SCDHEC does not publish case counts for municipalities, so we don’t know for certain. (And yes, we have all asked!)
 
South Carolina is currently experiencing one of the fastest growth rates in the country. Last week, the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut implemented a mandatory 14-day quarantine for visitors entering their respective states from areas with significant community spread, including South Carolina. This is a dramatic change of events since March, when Governor Henry McMaster required a mandatory 14-day quarantine for visitors entering the state of South Carolina from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
 
The best way to protect yourself is to assume 1) every person you come into contact with has the virus, and 2) you yourself have the virus. To minimize the risk of exposure and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that individuals take the following precautions:

• Hand Hygiene: Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, use hand sanitizer, avoid of touching your face and mouth, and avoid shaking hands with others. 
• Social Distancing: Maintain at least six feet of separation between yourself and others. 
• Travel: Avoid unnecessary travel, especially to areas of high concentrations of cases of infection. 
• Limit Contact with the Sick and Elderly: Cease visits to nursing homes and other extended care facilities, except in the case of end-of-life circumstances. 
• Wear a Face Covering or Mask: The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings or masks in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (such as grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

 
Town Council to Hold Emergency Meeting on Tues. June 30th
Seabrook Island Town Council will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday, June 30th, at 10:00 am. During the emergency meeting, Town Council will consider an emergency ordinance to require the wearing of face coverings at all business establishments within the town.

Individuals who wish to submit a public comment on the proposed emergency ordinance may do so in advance of the meeting using one of the options listed below. Written comments will be accepted until 9:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting.

• Online: Public Comment Portal
• Email: fallbritton@townofseabrookisland.org 
• Drop Off: 2001 Seabrook Island Road, Seabrook Island, SC 29455

​Consistent with recommendations from the CDC related to “social distancing,” the Town of Seabrook Island is requesting that members of the public who wish to observe this meeting participate remotely by using one of the following options:

• ​​Watch Live: Live Stream Video (YouTube)
• Listen by Phone: (712) 770-5505; Access Code 659-714

​Social Distancing on the Beach
As we gear up for the busiest weekend of the year, residents and visitors are reminded that the town remains under a state of emergency due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While the beaches of Seabrook Island remain open for recreational activities, groups of more than 10 individuals are currently prohibited. In addition, all individuals, regardless of whether visiting the beach alone or in a group, should practice “social distancing” by maintaining a minimum separation of 6 feet from others. The town’s beach patrol and code enforcement officers are authorized to enforce these requirements and may order the dispersal of large groups. Violators are also subject to fines of up to $500.00 per day (plus state assessments and surcharges) upon conviction.

Seabrook Island Town Hall Remains Open to the Public
Seabrook Island Town Hall remains open to the public during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm). To maintain social distancing, no more than two customers are allowed inside the building at a time. Public access is limited to the lobby area only and public restrooms will remain closed. Beginning on Tuesday, June 30th, all individuals entering town hall must wear a mask or face covering. All public meetings – including Town Council, board, commission and committee meetings – will continue to be held “virtually” for the foreseeable future.
 
The town encourages residents, property owners, business owners and contractors to continue using “virtual services” to the greatest extent possible. For assistance during normal operating hours, please contact us by phone at (843) 768-9121 or by email at info@townofseabrookisland.org. For your convenience, the town has also located a drop box on the front porch at Town Hall.

More Information
For general questions about COVID-19, please contact the SCDHEC Care Line at (855) 472-3432. Staff will be available to answer calls from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm seven days a week.

For the most reliable information about COVID-19, including what to do if you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms, residents are strongly encouraged to visit official resources, including the SCDHEC and CDC websites.

Official updates from the Town of Seabrook Island will continue to be posted on the following channels:

• Town WEBSITE: www.townofseabrookisland.org
• Town TWITTER feed: www.twitter.com/seabrookislnd87
• Town FACEBOOK page: www.facebook.com/townofseabrookisland

 
Property owners and managers with rental guests should forward this information to their rental guests. Owners and managers of commercial establishments are also encouraged to share this information with their employees.

Charleston County Mosquito Control has scheduled a spray truck for Zone "K2," which includes the Town of Seabrook Island. The treatment is scheduled to take place overnight beginning after 11:00 PM on Monday, June 15th, and will be completed prior to 7:00 AM on Tuesday, June 16th (weather permitting).
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For more information about the Mosquito Control program, please visit Charleston County Mosquito Control.

June 10, 2020 -- 4:00 pm
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COVID-19 Data
Over the last several weeks, Governor Henry McMaster lifted many of the restrictions that were put into place earlier this year to combat the spread of COVID-19. The Governor’s “Home or Work Order” was repealed on May 4, 2020; since that time, most restaurants, businesses, amenities and attractions have been permitted to reopen across the state.
 
As our lives begin to resume some sense of “normalcy,” it’s easy to assume that the worst is behind us. However, recent data from the SCDHEC indicates a significant increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases across the state over the last few weeks.
 
At the time the Governor’s “Home or Work Order” was repealed, the state had confirmed approximately 164 new cases per day, on average, over the preceding 7-day period. This number remained relatively flat during the two-weeks following repeal. In recent weeks, however, the number of confirmed cases has risen dramatically. As of June 9th, the state had experienced an average of more than 400 new cases per day over the preceding 7 days, an increase of nearly 250%. [See Chart Below]
 
During a countywide conference call on Wed. June 10th, representatives from SCDHEC indicated that a portion of this increase can be attributed to higher testing rates across the state. However, SCDHEC also noted an increase in community spread resulting from reduced social distancing. Dr. Katie Richardson of SCDHEC characterized this increase as “alarming” and noted that the growth rate for new cases in the state of South Carolina is currently the fourth highest in the country.
 
As we move forward into the summer months, the town reminds everyone – residents, property owners, visitors and businesses – to remain vigilant and adhere the following recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Hand Hygiene: Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, use hand sanitizer, avoid of touching your face and mouth, and avoid shaking hands with others. 
• Social Distancing: Maintain at least six feet of separation between yourself and others. 
• Travel: Avoid unnecessary travel, especially to areas of high concentrations of cases of infection. 
• Limit Contact with the Sick and Elderly: Cease visits to nursing homes and other extended care facilities, except in the case of end-of-life circumstances. 
• Wear a Face Covering or Mask: The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings or masks in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (such as grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

State Health Agencies Issue Joint Statement
On Tuesday, June 9th, SCDHEC, the S.C. Hospital Association (SCHA), S.C. Medical Association (SCMA) and S.C. Office of Rural Health (SCORH), issued the following joint statement:
 
“DHEC, SCHA, SCMA and SCORH have come together to strongly urge all South Carolinians to actively help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save the lives of our fellow residents by practicing physical social distancing and properly using face masks.
 
There is rapidly growing medical evidence that the use of face masks along with social distancing can greatly reduce the transmission of the COVID-19 virus in public spaces and places where people at higher risk of severe illness and death from this virus are likely to be present. We must all commit to wearing face masks in public spaces — if we all wear them, we’ll all be protected.
 
Since the beginning of this public health crisis, our organizations jointly committed to protect the health and welfare of all South Carolinians throughout this pandemic. We’re calling on you for your continued help. 
 
Please join the leaders and staff of DHEC, SCHA, SCMA and SCORH and the physicians and hospital systems we represent in protecting the lives of all South Carolinians by wearing face masks in confined public settings and maintaining at least six feet between those who are not members of your household.
 
Together, we can turn the tide on the COVID-19 pandemic and save lives in South Carolina.”
 
This joint statement follows recently updated guidance from the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) that clearly emphasizes the importance of face masks and social distancing in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
 
Update on Town Events
As a result of the ongoing pandemic, several events and activities within the town have been cancelled or rescheduled:

• Disaster Awareness Day: The annual Kiawah-Seabrook Disaster Awareness Day event, which was scheduled for June 11th at the Kiawah Conference Center, has been CANCELLED.
• Fourth of July Fireworks: The Fourth of July fireworks display, held annually at the Seabrook Island Club and sponsored by the Town of Seabrook Island, has been CANCELLED.
• Kick It at Bohicket: The Bohicket Marina Merchants Association has confirmed that this year’s Kick It at Bohicket events, held every Tuesday between Memorial Day and Labor Day, have been CANCELLED.
• Free Shredding Event: The town’s spring shredding event, which was originally scheduled for April at Town Hall, has been RESCHEDULED to July 17th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
• Bohicket Invitational Billfish Tournament: The Bohicket Invitational Billfish Tournament, which was scheduled to take place May 6th-9th at Bohicket Marina, has been RESCHEDULED to July 29th-August 1st.

 
Social Distancing on the Beach
The beaches of Seabrook Island remain open for recreational activities. When visiting the beach, beachgoers are reminded that groups of more than 10 individuals are currently prohibited. All individuals, regardless of whether visiting the beach alone or in a group, should practice “social distancing” by maintaining a minimum separation of 6 feet from others. The town’s beach patrol and code enforcement officers are authorized to enforce these requirements and may order the dispersal of large groups. Violators are also subject to fines of up to $500.00 per day (plus state assessments and surcharges) upon conviction.

Seabrook Island Town Hall is Open to the Public
Seabrook Island Town Hall reopened to the public for regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm) Mon. May 18th. To maintain social distancing, no more than two customers will be allowed inside the building at a time. Public access will be limited to the lobby area only and public restrooms will remain closed. The town has implemented enhanced cleaning practices; however, visitors are encouraged to wear masks and gloves for their own protection. All public meetings – including Town Council, board, commission and committee meetings – will continue to be held “virtually” for the foreseeable future.
 
The town encourages residents, property owners, business owners and contractors to continue using “virtual services” to the greatest extent possible. For assistance during normal operating hours, please contact us by phone at (843) 768-9121 or by email at info@townofseabrookisland.org. For your convenience, the town has also located a drop box on the front porch at Town Hall.

More Information
For general questions about COVID-19, please contact the SCDHEC Care Line at (855) 472-3432. Staff will be available to answer calls from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm seven days a week.

For the most reliable information about COVID-19, including what to do if you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms, residents are strongly encouraged to visit official resources, including the SCDHEC and CDC websites.

Official updates from the Town of Seabrook Island will continue to be posted on the following channels:

• Town WEBSITE: www.townofseabrookisland.org
• Town TWITTER feed: www.twitter.com/seabrookislnd87
• Town FACEBOOK page: www.facebook.com/townofseabrookisland

 
Property owners and managers with rental guests should forward this information to their rental guests. Owners and managers of commercial establishments are also encouraged to share this information with their employees.

The Town of Seabrook Island will host a FREE public shredding event on Fri. July 17th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. This is a make-up date for the spring shredding event which was cancelled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
The event will take place rain or shine in the parking lot adjacent to Seabrook Island Town Hall (2001 Seabrook Island Road).
 
Attendees will be limited to three boxes (copy paper box or smaller) or three bags (kitchen trash bag or smaller) per vehicle. There is no need to remove binders, binder clips, paper clips, staples, rubber bands, or CDs/DVDs prior to shredding.
 
Shredding services will be provided by Shred360.
 
The town's fall shredding event is scheduled to take place on Fri. October 23rd from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. 
 
For more information, please call Town Hall at (843) 768-9121.

Due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the town's Independence Day fireworks display scheduled for Fri. July 3, 2020, at the Seabrook Island Club has been CANCELLED. 

We look forward to seeing you again in 2021.