Town of Seabrook Island Issues Fifth Public Advisory on COVID-19 (Coronavirus); State of Emergency Now in Effect

March 17, 2020 -- 8:00 pm
 
To protect the public health, safety and welfare of residents and visitors, Mayor John Gregg has declared the existence of a State of Emergency within the Town of Seabrook Island as a result of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The declaration was effective at 12:00 pm on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, and will remain in effect until repealed by the Mayor or a majority of Town Council members.
 
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and consistent with the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Mayor and Council of the Town of Seabrook Island have implemented the following emergency measures:

• Public Meetings: All meetings of the Town Council, Ways and Means Committee, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, DSO Advisory Committee, Public Safety Committee and Utility Commission have been CANCELLED through the end of April. Special or emergency meetings may be called on an as-needed basis and may be conducted via teleconference.
• Public Hearings: The Public Hearings for Ordinances 2020-03, 2020-04 and 2020-05, which were advertised for March 24, 2020, have been CANCELLED.
• Municipal Court: The Municipal Court session scheduled for April 15, 2020, has been CANCELLED.
• Town Events: The town’s Spring Shred Event, which was scheduled for April 24, 2020, has been POSTPONED.
• Temporary Use Permits: The consideration and issuance of temporary use permits has been SUSPENDED for all events and activities scheduled to take place over the next eight weeks.
• Town Operations: Seabrook Island Town Hall will be CLOSED to the public beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. At that time, the town will transition to "VIRTUAL SERVICES" only. For assistance with business licensing, code enforcement, permitting and other town services during normal operating hours (Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm), please contact us by phone at (843) 768-9121 or by email at info@townofseabrookisland.org. The town’s code enforcement officers will remain active on the island as long as it is safe for them to do so. Beach Patrol activities will commence on April 1, 2020, as scheduled.

 
At this time, the town’s State of Emergency has NOT impacted the following activities; however, residents and visitors are strongly advised to heed the recommendations of state and federal agencies:

• Beach Access: The beaches of Seabrook Island are currently open. Beach Patrol activities will commence on April 1, 2020, as scheduled. Residents and visitors are encouraged to practice “social distancing” on the beach and avoid gathering in groups of more than ten people, as recommended by the CDC.
• Gate Access: Neither the town nor the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association (SIPOA) have restricted access to or from the island. The SIPOA security gate will remain open to guests and contractors as long as SIPOA has determined that it is safe to do so. Any changes to gate access will be at the discretion of SIPOA.
• Short-Term Rentals: The town has not implemented any additional restrictions on short-term rental units at this time. Owners and managers of rental units should undertake routine cleaning and disinfection activities, as recommended by the CDC, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among rental guests.

 
Seabrook Island remains subject to both the National Emergency and statewide State of Emergency declarations which were issued by President Donald Trump and Governor Henry McMaster, respectively, on Friday, March 13, 2020. By executive order, the following restrictions are now in effect on a statewide basis:

• Schools: On Sunday, March 15, 2020, Governor McMaster ordered the closure of all public K-12 schools, as well as state-supported colleges, universities and technical schools, until at least March 31, 2020.
• Bars and Restaurants: On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, Governor McMaster ordered that all restaurants, bars and cafeterias in the State of South Carolina must stop all dine-in activities beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Eateries may continue to provide drive through, delivery and take-out options.

 
To minimize the risk of exposure and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the 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 of the person being visited.

 
For general questions about COVID-19, please contact the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (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 as new information becomes available:

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

 
Property Owners with rental guests should forward this notice to their rental guests.
 
More Information

State of Emergency Declaration: Issued March 17, 2020 (PDF)
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