City of Charleston March 31 Coronavirus Update

The city of Charleston remains at OPCON 1 and continues to enforce the Stay at Home ordinance citywide.

Since last Friday, the city’s Livability Department has been working with the Charleston Fire Department to meet with local grocery stores and big-box retailers to provide guidance on social distancing and various protective measures that can be implemented.

To lessen the chances of COVID-19 spread in these environments, the city is now issuing the following four recommendations to retailers:

1. Limit occupancy to 50% of that allowed by code
2. Mark areas for appropriate customer separation at checkout lanes
3. Designate each aisle as one-way to lessen cross-traffic and enable social distancing
4. Provide hand sanitizer and/or wipes to all patrons

The Charleston Police Department is working with its regional partners to enforce Governor Henry McMaster’s executive order regarding the closure of public boat landings and water access points and has dispatched its marine patrol boats to aid this effort.

The city continues actively working to provide assistance to vulnerable members of the community who are unsheltered during this time. Portable handwashing stations have been set up in areas with high pedestrian traffic, and with the help of Charleston’s medical community, the city has developed and implemented a plan to provide meals, transportation and safe spaces for these individuals to quarantine while awaiting testing or test results, and to subsequently isolate in the event of a positive result.

Additionally, the city is working with Fetter Health Care Network and MUSC to increase their testing capacity and accessibility to better meet the needs of individuals who are unsheltered and who may lack access to reliable transportation.

At their meeting on Monday, April 6, Charleston City Council will consider an emergency ordinance authorizing public hearings before city boards, commissions and committees to be conducted virtually for a period of 60 days or until otherwise terminated.

The emergency ordinance can be viewed here: https://www.charleston-sc.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04062020-5394

The April 6 meeting will also include a Citizens’ Participation Period. Citizens must provide comments by 4:00 p.m., Friday, April 3rd in one of the following forms:

1. E-mail comments to publiccomments@charleston-sc.gov
2. Leave a voice mail at 843-579-6313
3. Mail comments to: Clerk of Council, 80 Broad Street, Charleston, SC 29401