COVID 19 And Our Community
We are now challenged in unprecedented ways.
An insidious viral monster threatens each of us and our families, bringing upset to the rhythm of our daily lives. But we all now realize this is not merely an “upset”; COVID 19 is unprecedented, historic and, yes, a very dangerous reality.
We are mandated to understand we are in this together.
North Charleston’s population of 125,000 swells each business day to about 250,000 as Regional Charleston’s commerce congregates within city limits. Our city is the venue for the international airport, major military and defense department operations, the rail industry and the Port of Charleston, likewise the giants of our manufacturing commerce.
In a word, our city is a 76-square mile diversity, hard-wired to global trends – and home for us.
Please stay informed. I’ve listed several on-line links within this newsletter and a comprehensive list at the end. There are many more.
Please stay on alert. There will likely be many more public orders related to schools’ operations, public gatherings, etc.
We should all be committed to follow basic instructions and guidelines of hand-washing and social distancing and travel limitations.
And I am committed to helping anyway I can, especially in providing real-time communications links for anyone needing our city’s assistance.
At a Monday afternoon meeting, Mayor Summey and City Council approved an emergency declaration that provides resources to maintain critical city services. Priorities, of course, are police and fire and public works/sanitation. We also approved measures to assure adequate leave for employees who are ill or who must care for children or aging relatives. And we provided for incentive pay increments for the employees who work through this initial period of unknown effects.
So, our police and fire department crews are in place. Garbage and trash pickup schedules remain unaltered, as of now.
All recreation and cultural arts events are cancelled through April. City Council meetings for March are cancelled.
These actions are re-evaluated daily.
Here are Dorchester District 2 and Charleston County school districts’ websites. Each of these links are updated several times daily.
https://www.ddtwo.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=23586
https://www.ccsdschools.com/
Please let me know via this e mail link if I can help or answer any questions related to city services.
REPAVING UPDATES
Sanders Brothers Construction has begun resurfacing work on Ayscough Road. (Speed humps will be installed at locations recommended by the Wescott Master HOA.)
The company also will repave most of Wescott and Patriot boulevards with night-hour projects. The schedule – subject to COVIUD 19 related changes – is for this work to begin Sunday, April 12th.
Aquatics Center
This $23 million project is nearing completion. The last cycles of work have been slowed a bit, but we still anticipate an opening next month. That is subject, of course, to COVID 19 contingencies. Here is a video update of the project site: https://www.facebook.com/NorthCharleston/videos/163151571335969/
Information Links!
The S.C. Department of Health and Environment Control Hotline is 1-855-472-3432. Staff are answering general questions about COVID-19 from 8 am to 6 pm weekdays.
The SCDHEC website link which is updated with state and national information as it becomes available:
https://www.scdhec.gov/health/infectious-diseases/viruses/novel-coronavirus-2019-nCoV
The Center For Disease Control website also provides information to address COVID 19 specifics https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Mass Gatherings
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html
Law Enforcement
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-law-enforcement.html
Higher Education
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-ihe-response.html
Travelers self-care
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/care-booklet.html
FAQ for Travelers
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html
General FAQs
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
Cases in the US
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html
Confirmed Case Locations
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/locations-confirmed-cases.html
Please recirculate this newsletter to your District 4 neighbors. I’ll add any resident to the direct distribution list. Just contact me at rbrin@aol.com
