Sumter Today: We give you the most up to date information we know about COVID-19's impact on our community.

Gov. Henry McMaster announced all non-essential businesses must close by 5 p.m. today, following days of calls from local and state leaders to issue a stay-at-home order, including a Charleston lawmaker who has contracted the new coronavirus.
This most recent executive order does not mandate a shelter-in-place situation for the state. Columbia and Charleston have opted not to lift their such orders even after state Attorney General Alan Wilson gave an opinion that only the governor can make that decision under a state of emergency.

Tomorrow at 2 p.m., we will be talking with Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis about his agency’s response to the virus and the changes deputies are making to keep themselves and the people they interact with safe.

To watch the Sumter’s Virtual COVID-19 Response live, register for free at TheItem.com/coronavirus. It will also be posted on Facebook and our website after.