Town of Seabrook Island Issues Public Advisory #11 on COVID-19

March 31, 2020 — 10:00 pm
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Emergency Town Council Meeting
Seabrook Island Town Council has scheduled an Emergency Meeting for Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 2:00 pm. The purpose of this meeting is to consider an Emergency Ordinance entitled: “An Emergency Ordinance to adopt the provisions of the Mayor’s Executive Order Nos. 2020-01 and 2020-02; to adopt emergency provisions related to certain types of business establishments; to adopt emergency provisions related to Short-Term Rental Units; to adopt emergency provisions related to Town Meetings; to provide for enforcement and penalties of emergency provisions; and other matters related thereto.” Consistent with recent recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) related to “social distancing,” the Town of Seabrook Island is requesting that members of the public who wish to observe this meeting dial in by telephone: Phone Number: (712) 770-5505, Access Code: 659-714. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the town’s YouTube Channel beginning at 2:00 pm. No public hearing will be held during the meeting. Individuals who wish to submit an online comment on Emergency Ordinance 2020-01 may do so using the link below. Online comments will be accepted through the Town’s website until Wednesday, April 1st, at 12:00 pm. More Information: View Meeting Agenda  |  Submit a Public Comment   |   Livestream Video (YouTube)

Governor Closes Public Access to All Beaches and Waterways; Seabrook Island Beaches Unaffected
On Monday, March 30, Governor Henry McMaster issued Executive Order No. 2020-16, which ordered the immediate closure of any and all public beach access points, piers, docks, wharfs, boat ramps, and boat landings providing public access to waters of the state, to include any adjacent or associated public parking lots or other public facilities, for the duration of the State of Emergency. Because all beach access points within the Town of Seabrook Island are privately owned, they are not affected by the Governor’s executive order. Therefore, the town’s beaches remain open at this time. As a reminder, the Mayor’s Executive Order No. 2020-01 prohibits gatherings of more than ten people while outside their homes (including on the beach), requires people within groups of ten or fewer people to practice “social distancing” by maintaining a minimum separation of six feet between individuals, and authorizes the Town’s Code Enforcement Officers to work with local law enforcement officers to disperse groups of three or more individuals if an Officer believes the group creates a threat to public health. More Information: View Governor’s Executive Order 2020-16

Governor Orders the Closure of Certain Types of Business Establishments
On Tuesday, March 31, Governor Henry McMaster issued Executive Order No. 2020-17, which ordered the closure of certain types of business establishments within the state. Effective Wednesday, April 1, at 5:00 pm, the following “non-essential” businesses, venues, facilities, services, and activities shall be closed to non-employees and shall not be open for access or use by the public (including members):

  • Entertainment venues and facilities, including: Night clubs; Bowling alleys; Arcades; Concert venues; Theaters, auditoriums, and performing arts centers; Tourist attractions (including museums, aquariums, and planetariums); Racetracks; Indoor children’s play areas (excluding licensed childcare facilities); Adult entertainment venues; Bingo halls; and Venues operated by social clubs.
  • Recreational and athletic facilities and activities, including: Fitness and exercise centers and commercial gyms; Spas and public or commercial swimming pools; Group exercise facilities, to include yoga, barre, and spin studios or facilities; Spectator sports; Sports that involve interaction in close proximity to and within less than six feet of another person; Activities that require the use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment; Activities on commercial or public playground equipment
  • Close-contact service providers, including: Barber shops; Hair salons; Waxing salons; Threading salons; Nail salons and spas; Body-art facilities and tattoo services; Tanning salons; Massage-therapy establishments and massage services.

More Information: View Governor’s Executive Order 2020-17

Seabrook Island Town Hall Closed
As a reminder, Town Hall remains closed and members of town staff are working remotely to provide “virtual services” to residents and business owners. For assistance 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. All public meetings have been cancelled through April 30th, with the exception of emergency meetings.

Protect Yourself and Others
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.

More Information
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:

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

-Submitted by Joseph M. Cronin, Town Administrator, Town of Seabrook Island.