The latest closures and changes due to COVID-19 impacting Sumter, Clarendon, Lee counties
As the coronavirus continues to increasingly impact Sumter, South Carolina and the world, we will continue adding to this list of event cancellations and changes being made in response to the virus outbreak.
There remain no confirmed cases in Sumter, Clarendon or Lee counties as of Monday morning. There have been 33 cases statewide with 18 Camden and Kershaw County.
The Centers for Prevention and Disease Control is recommending gatherings of 50 people or more to be avoided for the next eight weeks. President Trump said Monday to avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
CHANGES
Walmart stores and Neighborhood Markets are now open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. until further notice. Stores operating at more reduced hours regularly will keep their current hours of operation.
Epps Orthodontics will be closed for two weeks starting on Tuesday, as recommended by the American Dental Association, according to an Epps Orthodontics employee. Staff will contact and reschedule appointments for clients during that time once they return to work. Another dentist's office in Sumter said the S.C. Board of Dentistry recommended all dental offices close for two weeks. The board advised offices to see patients only for urgent needs or emergencies.
Upon entering Prisma Health facilities, including at Tuomey Hospital in Sumter, visitors will now be asked to follow three steps:
- Only one visitor per patient.
- Check in at the main entrance, other designated entrance or emergency department. Other doors may be locked. Signs will direct visitors.
- Visitors will be asked questions to determine if they’ve had a fever, cough, sore throat, body aches or nasal congestion in the past 24 hours. Visitors’ temperatures will be taken. Visitors will be asked about travel outside the country or exposure to a person testing positive with COVID-19.
- Visitors with symptoms will not be permitted inside.
- Visitors must be 18 years or older to visit a patient in any hospital, except with approval by the patient’s physician
Visitors to Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in the Midlands is limited to parents only. In the absence of one or both parents, one designated caregiver will be allowed to visit the patient. All visitors must be 18 years or older.
No more than one visitor per patient will be allowed at all McLeod Health facilities. Visitors must be 18 years or older. Children under the age of 18 cannot visit.
The Harvin Clarendon County Library at 215 N. Brooks St. is open March 16-18 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with limited computer access at 15 minutes per session. The library will close beginning Thursday, March 19 until further notice. Online resources will be available 24/7 including Hoopla Digital, OverDrive/Libby e-Books, One Click audio books, Tutor.com and more. Free Wifi will be accessible in the library parking lot each day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. No fees or fines will be charged on any items due during the closure. Items currently on hold at the library will have their hold pickup date extended by 30 days. Library card expiration dates have been extended by 30 days. Until then, WiFi units are available for checkout for internet access at home. Tax assistance for March 16 has been canceled. There will be no new hold requests or SCLends deliveries. No group seating is available.
Chick-Fil-A is closing its dining rooms across the nation. The locations at 1170 Broad St. will continue offering drive-thru and mobile pick up services, and the location in the Sumter Mall is continuing to serve food, as well.
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(Announcements made prior to Sunday, March 15)
The City of Sumter asks that only those directly concerned with items on the agenda attend its regularly scheduled meetings on Tuesday, March 17. Council will not have a public comment period during the meeting.
Shaw Air Force Base elevated the Health Protection Condition (HPCON) to BRAVO Friday. Though there are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Shaw, the base is entering HPCON due to cautionary measures. According to 20th Fighter Wing public affairs, all base operations are continuing as normal, but all large on-base gatherings are canceled. Other updates include: new gate procedures, where you hold your CAC with the barcode out to the defenders when entering the base rather than handing them your card; the Airman Leadership School Graduation has been canceled; the Daddy/Daughter dance has been canceled; no bingo until further notice; and Club will only serve from the pub menu.
Walgreens is waiving delivery fees for all eligible prescriptions beginning Friday, March 13. The pharmacy chain is also offering free delivery on any purchase on www.Walgreens.com, with no minimum purchase required.
EVENT CANCELLATIONS
The appearance by Susan Zurenda, author of the novel "Eli's Bells," at the annual meeting of the Friends of the Sumter County Library on Sunday, March 22, has been postponed until Sunday, May 31.
All 2020 Morris College Alumni Weekend events scheduled for April 16-19 have been canceled.
Festival on the Avenue has been postponed until further notice.
The Sumter County Library and Sumter County Museum have canceled public events through March.
Bingo and Census 2020 events are canceled.
Manning's Striped Bass Festival has been postponed.
The second-annual Inspire! Festival and all associated events are canceled. Art may still be displayed in windows downtown.
The James Gregory event scheduled for March 20 at the Sumter Opera House has been postponed. A rescheduled date will be announced soon. Previously purchases tickets will be honored for the new date.
The Annual Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic originally scheduled for March 27-29 at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia has been canceled.
Sumter Little Theatre's production of "The Hobbit," originally scheduled to open on March 26, has been postponed. It is now scheduled to open on April 26.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the City of Sumter’s Recreation Renovation and Gymnasium Penny for Progress Project has been canceled. It was scheduled for Tuesday, March 17.
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(Announcements made prior to Sunday, March 15)
Mayesville Presbyterian Church's benefit for Feed My Starving Children, scheduled for March 19, has been canceled.
The annual Farm to Table event, scheduled for March 19, has been canceled. It brings dozens of vendors to the Sumter County Civic Center to support local agriculture, food industry professionals and the Sumter Rotary Club. If you purchased tickets already, you have until April 30 to return them for a full refund. Mail your tickets along with your name and address to Farm to Table, c/o Sumter Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1212, Sumter SC 29151-1212. After April 30, proceeds for any tickets not refunded will be divided among the charities slated to benefit from the event.
On Thursday, the Carolina Cup Racing Association canceled the upcoming 86th Carolina Cup on March 28. The cancellation was due to guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local Kershaw County health authorities amid the recent coronavirus outbreak in South Carolina. While the decision was not made lightly, the CCRA said it put the safety of its patrons, athletes, residents of South Carolina and staff first. “In the history of the Carolina Cup Races, this is only the second time the tradition has been interrupted,” the CCRA said in a press release. “We value the families and many sponsors who have supported this important tradition for decades.” According to CCRA leaders, the one other time the Carolina Cup was canceled was during World War II. With the cancellation, the CCRA and Camden will experience an “obvious economic impact,” but the exact estimate has not yet been determined. According to CCRA leaders, the 2020 races reportedly expected 30,000 patrons based on ticket sales, which was the highest number of ticket sales they’ve seen in years. Patrons will be emailed details on how to obtain a refund on their purchase. Patrons can also roll over their reservations for the running of the Carolina Cup Races in 2021.
The YWCA Excellence in High Heels on March 21 is postponed until a later date.
The Harvin Clarendon County Library is suspending bookmobile and outreach services beginning Monday. This suspension of services will be in effect through the end of March. Public storytimes and the Library Book Club meeting scheduled for March have been canceled. The library in Manning will continue to operate regular hours and will post any additional schedule changes or closures to its website and the library Facebook page.
For a multitude of sporting events, games and seasons that have been canceled, postponed or will be played without spectators, go to https://www.theitem.com/sports/.
SCHOOL CLOSURES AND CHANGES
Clemson University is extending its online instruction through Sunday, April 5. All university events statewide have been suspended through April 5.
All public schools in the state of South Carolina are closed beginning Monday, March 16, through at least the end of March per orders from the governor.
Clarendon Hall will be closed March 16-31 and will shift to online and in-home assignments. See additional information at https://www.theitem.com/stories/clarendon-hall-announces-closure-in-response-to-coronavirus-threat-staff-members-have-mandatory,342690. All staff members need to report to Clarendon Hall on March 16 for a mandatory meeting in the library at 8 a.m.
All CCTC campuses are closed to instruction and events March 16-31. Students: Coursework will resume online no later than March 23. Check email for updates. Full-Time Permanent Employees: Report to assigned campus at 8 a.m. Monday, March 16. Check for updates at www.cctech.edu/coronavirus and the college’s social media pages.
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(Announcements made prior to Sunday, March 15)
The University of South Carolina, including all of its campuses and USC Sumter, is extending spring break for a week through March 20. Classes will then be conducted online through April 3.
Morris College is extending spring break an extra week and is planning to resume classes on March 23. Residence halls will be closed while school is closed.
Saint Leo University, which has an education center at Shaw Air Force Base and an education office on South Wise Drive, is moving online starting Monday, March 16.