DHEC announces first COVID-19 death in Greenville County Authorities hope to do regular updates for the community Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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>> BREAKING NEWS OUT OF GREENVILLE, AN UPDATE ON THE CORONAVIRUS IMPACT FOR OUR AREA. >> I DO NOT KNOW HOW EVERYONE ELSE HAS FELT, BUT SOMETIMES WATCHING THE NATIONAL NEWS I HAVE THAT BETTER INFORMED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON THAN HERE. I THINK PEOPLE HAVE FELT THE SAME WAY FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO BRING TOGETHER THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY KNOW WHAT HIS HAPPENED ON THE GROUND, ESPECIALLY THE PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS THE STATE AGENCIES AND OTHERS THAT WE WILL BRING THROUGH HERE TO LET THE MEDIA ASK QUESTIONS AND HAVE PEOPLE RESPOND. THE INTENT WILL BE IT IS ALL BUSINESS ALL THE TIME. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PROVIDING ANY ENTERTAINMENT TO THIS. WE WANT TO HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO THESE MEETINGS. THIS MEETING TODAY SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A MEETING NEXT WEEK, SIMILAR IDEAS AND PLACE. WE MAY HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE APPEAR ON THE PANEL, BUT HOPE TO HAVE SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE. WE MAY HAVE SOME OTHER PEOPLE. I SPOKE A MOMENT AGO TO THE GOVERNOR AND TOLD HIM WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE, AND WE HAVE AN OPEN INVITATION WITH HIS OFFICE TO BRING SOME PEOPLE HERE AS WELL. TODAY THE MEETING IS PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE METRICS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND, ISSUES THAT WE READ ABOUT ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL SUCH AS MATERIAL THAT IS WANTED SUCH AS MASKS AND VENTILATORS AND THE ISSUE OF TESTING AND WHAT THE PLAN IS NOW AND WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED SO FAR. THOSE ARE THE ISSUES AND QUESTIONS THAT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE AND WE HOPE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT TODAY. THE CHAIRMAN IS HERE TO MAKE A FEW REMARKS. BEFORE YOU COME UP, I JUST WANT TO SAY, WE REALLY WANT T THANK THE MEDIA FOR GETTING THE WORD OUT. WE HAVE TRIED TO FOCUS ON THE PLACES IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE WE KNOW PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY TO GATHER, THE PARKS, DOWNTOWN, PLACES LIKE THAT. OUR MESSAGE IS AND HAS BEEN TO STAY HOME. THAT IS THE BEST WAY YOU CAN HELP THE AUTHORITIES DO THEIR JOB AS WELL AS POLICE AND FIRE AND PEOPLE WHO ARE DEALING IN THE CENTRAL SERVICES. WE WANT TO REITERATE THAT MESSAGE TODAY. BUTCH, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> I WANT TO REINFORCE WHAT THE MAYOR SAID, THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT THIS VIRUS. WE ARE BEING SATURATED WITH IT. A LITTLE BIT OF IT IS CREDIBLE BUT A LOT OF IT IS NOT. SOME OF IT IS CONJECTURE, SO THE PURPOSE TODAY IS TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT WE THINK IS CREDIBLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THE BEST DECISIONS WE CAN MAKE ARE ALWAYS BASED ON THE FACTS IN THE MOST CREDIBLE INFORMATION YOU HAVE. THIS MEETING TODAY IS DESIGNED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC ASSURANCE THAT THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING AT OUR LOCAL LEVEL, AND WE APPRECIATE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY ORGANIZING THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ON BEHALF OF COUNTY COUNSEL THAT WE WENT TO THANK ALL OF THE CITIZENS FOR VOLUNTARILY STAYING IN THEIR HOMES. I AM AMAZED AT HOW LITTLE TRAFFIC THERE IS ON THE ROAD. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE COMPLYING WITH THE EMERGENCY ORDERS WHICH COVER THE ENTIRE STATE INCLUDING ALL OF GREENVILLE COUNTY. WE APPRECIATE THE CITIZENS DOING THAT. IT IS GETTING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DEBATE ON HOW FAR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN GO TO MANDATE CERTAIN ACTIONS BEYOND WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS BREAD I GOT A COPY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OPINION LETTER JUST THIS MORNING THAT SAYS THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO THAT IS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND NOT WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF WHAT WE DO NOT TO IMPEDE OR CONTRADICT WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE GOVERNORS LEVEL, WHO HAS THE MOST ROBUST STAFF AND A WEALTH OF ADVICE TO COVER THE WATERFRONT, IF YOU WILL. FOR THE WORKERS AT OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND KITCHENS AND GROCERY STORES, HARDWARE STORES, GAS STATIONS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL BUSINESS, FOR THE AM --UNIMAGINABLE WORK THAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT THOSE FOLKS TO KEEP THOSE THINGS UP AND RUNNING FOR THE CITIZENS HERE. I WANT TO REPORT THAT THE MEMBERS OF RAINBOW COUNTY COUNSEL ARE WORKING EVERY DAY FOR THEIR CONSTITUENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNTY SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED IN A SAFE MANNER AND THEY ARE PULLING TOGETHER AND OVERCOMING THIS CRITICAL SITUATION. WE ARE THANKFUL FOR WHAT THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES ARE DOING FOR PUBLIC SERVICE UNDER THE MOST DIFFICULT OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING NOW. FINALLY, DESPITE THE TROUBLES CURRENTLY, WE CAN COUNT MANY BLESSINGS THAT WE HAVE HERE AND WE CAN BE THANKFUL FOR THAT. I WANT TO REPORT THAT THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS OPERATION HAS BEEN UP AND RUNNING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS AND THEY ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL DOWN TO THE SMALLEST RESCUE UNIT IN THE COUNTY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, THE LOCAL UTILITIES AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. THAT IS THE RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL THAT SERVES EVERYBODY. THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM THE DIRECTOR IN A MINUTE. WITH THOSE COMMENTS, I WILL CONCLUDE AND CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM AT THIS TIME. >> SOME PEOPLE WILL CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME, AND WE WILL BRING IN SOME OTHERS ON THESE PANELS, BUT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WITH THIS CRISIS, THE CITY HAS RELIED ON OUR FRIENDS AT PRISMA. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS AND MEETINGS WITH COUNSEL AND WITH OUR MANAGEMENT. WE HAVE FELT THAT WE ARE GETTING SOME GREAT INFORMATION BECAUSE WE ARE ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, BUT WE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED THAT PERHAPS THE PUBLIC HAS NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO ASK THE QUESTIONS. ERIC, IF YOU WILL COME FORWARD. I WOULD ASK ALL OF THE REPRESENTATIVES TO TRADUCE THEMSELVES AND TELL --INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND TELL ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES AND WHY YOU ARE HERE TODAY. >> I AM THE CHIEF OF PREPAREDNESS AT PRISMA AND ONE OF THE PHYSICIANS THERE AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR TEAM SINCE REALLY MIDDLE OF JANUARY TO PREPARE FOR THIS IT AS SOON AS WE REALIZED THAT THIS WAS OCCURRING IN CHINA, WE REALIZE THE POTENTIAL OF THE SPREAD HERE AND WE WOULD NEED TO BE PREPARED. WE HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH BOTH OUR STATE AND CITY AND COUNTY PARTNERS TO GET PREPARED TO ADDRESS THIS VIRUS. THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS THE COLLABORATION HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY POWERFUL. THERE IS A SYNERGY HERE IN THE UPSTATE AND IN THE MIDLANDS THAT HAS MADE US BETTER PREPARED AS WE FACE ACTUAL CASES HERE. AS WE STAND HERE, WE CURRENTLY HAVE PEOPLE IN HOSPITALS IN THE UPSTATE AND MIDLANDS WHO HAVE COVID-19 AND THEY ARE BEING WELL TAKEN CARE OF BY OUR TEAMS. WE HAVE DIAGNOSED PEOPLE WITH THAT AS THEY HAVE COME THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH LINES, AND WE HAVE ALSO DIAGNOSED THEM IN THE CLINICS BOTH IN THE UPSTATE AND COLUMBIA. I THINK WE ARE VERY WELL PREPARED AND WE ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO BE PREPARED. WE HAVE TO REALIZE THAT CONTINUING ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE MADE THE UPSTATE A RELATIVELY SAFE PLACE TO BE, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DISTANCE OURSELVES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE OBSERVE GOOD HAND HYGIENE, BASIC MESSAGES LIKE IF YOU ARE SICK STAY-AT-HOME. I JUST WANT TO TOUCH A BIT ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING AT PRISMA AND SOME OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS. IN THE LAST FOUR WEEKS WE HAVE INCREASED BED CAPACITY, THROUGH A ROBUST TRAINING PROGRAM WITH ALL OF OUR CLINICAL STAFF, TRAINING AND RETRAINING ON APPROPRIATE USE OF PPE. WE HAVE PURCHASED EQUIPMENT FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO ATTEMPT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORKERS WILL BE SAFE WHEN THEY CARE FOR THESE PEOPLE. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THIS INNOVATION TEAM WITH SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST MINDS IN THE ORGANIZATION, AND THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING UP WITH SOME REALLY INCREDIBLE IDEAS WORKING WITH PRIVATE INDUSTRY. THEY FIGURED OUT A WAY TO MAKE FACE SHIELDS HERE AND THEY ARE FIGURING OUT A WAY TO MAKE MASKS HERE. THEY ARE INVOLVED IN RESEARCH ON HOW WE TREAT THIS DISEASE. I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE IS A STRONG COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IN THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND ALL OF YOUR PARTNERS TO REALLY GET US THROUGH THIS CRISIS. WITH THAT, I JUST WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING PLEASE REMEMBER THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN DEFEATING THIS VIRUS ARE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM. IF WE CAN MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING, GOOD HYGIENE, WE CAN STOP THIS DISEASE FROM SPREADING HERE, WE WILL DEFEAT THIS DISEASE. WITH THAT I WILL CLOSE INTERNET BACK OVER TO THE MAYOR. EVERYONE CAN MAKE A FEW COMMENTS, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE QUESTION AND ANSWERS, WHICH IS THE MAIN PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE. >> I AM THE REGIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL. THE REPORTS ARE BEING RECEIVED CONTINUOUSLY AND INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING. AS OF THURSDAY LATE AFTERNOON, THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS WERE UPDATED, AND THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 456 LAB CONFIRMED CASES OF CORONAVIRUS, COVID-19 IN THE STATE. 39 COUNTIES, AND AS I MENTIONED THAT NUMBER IS MORE TODAY, BUT WE HAVE TO UPDATE THE NUMBERS ON A SET SCHEDULE OR ELSE IT IS ALWAYS MOVING. THOSE ARE THE OFFICIALS NUMBERS. IT WILL BE UPDATED AGAIN LATER TODAY. GREENVILLE COUNTY HAD 51 AT THAT TIME, WHICH WAS THE FOURTH MOST FOR THE STATE. ANDERSON COUNTY HAD 21, AND SPARTANBURG HAD NINE. AT THE TIME OF THE UPDATE, THERE WERE NINE DEATHS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. UNFORTUNATELY AND SADLY WE HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL DEATH IN GREENVILLE COUNTY. IT WAS THIS ELDERLY PERSON WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT WOULD HAVE PUT THEM AT HIGH RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS. THAT INFORMATION WILL BE REFLECTED LATER TODAY. >> COULD YOU SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT? WE’RE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY. >> DO THINK I NEED TO REPEAT THAT? ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT I CAN SAY IS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO STAY HOME WHEN THEY ARE SICK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ONUS. WE FOLLOW-UP ON REPORTS OF THE VIRUS AND WE TALK TO PEOPLE AND LOOK AT THE RISK FACTORS AND TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS GOING ON OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE SEEING THAT PEOPLE, SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING WHILE THEY ARE SICK. THEN IT OCCURS TO THEM THAT MAYBE THEY HAVE COVID-19 AND THEN THEY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS, BUT WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO STAY HOME AT THE VERY FIRST INKLING OF THE ILLNESS THAT COULD BE COVID. WE TALK ABOUT FEVER AND COUGH AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH AS PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SYMPTOMS, BUT IT CAN PRESENT MORE VAGUELY WITH HEADACHES, SORE THROAT, JUST GENERAL WEAKNESSES. WE DO NOT WANT PEOPLE -- WE DO NOT WANT PEOPLE TO KEEP WORKING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN START THINKING IT COULD BE COVID. THE VERY BEGINNING, PEOPLE NEED TO STAY HOME COULD IF THEY ARE AT WORK WHEN THEY GET SICK, TELL THEIR SUPERVISOR FROM A DISTANCE AND GO HOME. IT IS NOT IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME THAT EVERYONE WHO THINKS THEY MAY HAVE COVID TO BE TESTED. YOU CAN TAKE THE STEPS TO PROTECT OTHERS AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS. WAITING TO SEE IF YOU THINK IT IS ARE WAITING TO BE TESTED, THIS EXPOSES OTHERS AND PUTS OTHERS AT RISK. WHAT WE ARE EMPHASIZING NOW IS TRACKING THE OUTBREAK TO LOOK FOR CHANGING CHARACTERISTICS AND SUCH THINGS AS SEVERITY IN POPULATIONS THAT ARE AFFECTED AND THE RATE OF NEW CASES. CERTAIN GROUPS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THEY BE TESTED, BUT GIVEN THE SPREAD AND THE TRANSMISSION IN THE NATION NOW, PARTICULATE IN SOUTH CAROLINA, IT IS NOT IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY SEEK TESTING BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS. THERE ARE CERTAIN GROUPS THAT WE REALLY DO ENCOURAGE TESTING, PEOPLE THAT HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS AT A HIGH RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS, PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE THAN MILDLY ILL. WE THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL CARE WORKERS MAINTAIN THE AVAILABILITY OF TESTING, SETTINGS LIKE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THOSE. WE CONTRACT THE CHANGING EPIDEMIOLOGY TO OTHER MEANS, NOT HAVING TO HAVE EVERYBODY TESTED. THERE WILL BE MORE CASES. UNFORTUNATELY THERE WILL BE MORE DEATHS. IT IS NOT TO BE UNEXPECTED. WHEN IT HAPPENS, AS WE KNOW IT WILL, THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THE ACTIONS THAT ARE BEING TAKING ARE FAILING OR THAT THERE IS A NEED TO PANIC. THIS IS NOT MAGICAL. WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT. WE KNOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS. IT WILL STILL PROGRESS, AND SO FAR THIS SEASON WE HAVE HAD OVER 100 DEATHS FROM INFLUENZA AND 6400 LAB CONFIRMED CASES OF INFLUENZA. WE FACE THAT EVERY YEAR. TWO YEARS AGO WE HAD OVER 280 DEATHS. THAT IS I KNOW WAY --IN NO WAY MEANT TO MINIMIZE COVID. WE DEAL WITH DISEASES LIKE THIS THAT TAKES SIMILAR CONTROL MEASURES PERIODICALLY AND WE GET THROUGH IT. IT IS TOUGH AND IT CAN BE INTENSE, BUT WE MANAGE. WE ALL PULL TOGETHER AND WE DO IT. WE DO NOT EXACTLY KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL NUMBERS WILL END UP, BUT THAT IS JUST WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WE JUST NEED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND AGAIN, PANICKING DOES NOT REALLY HELP YOUR HEALTH OR YOUR COMMUNITY, BUT MAINTAINING A HEALTHY PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT IS GOING ON BY OBTAINING INFORMATION FROM RELIABLE SOURCES. GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM JAY MERRITT, THE DIRECTORY OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE ARE A AIDING AGENCY. WE COORDINATE THROUGH INFORMATION, PEOPLE AND RESOURCES. TO THAT END, DESPITE THE FACT WE ARE A COUNTY AGENCY, WE SERVE EVERYONE IN THE COUNTY, MUNICIPALITIES, PRIVATE SECTOR. THE BIG THING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SO FAR IS TRYING TO LOCATE AND GET PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO THE RESPONDERS, HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATIONS. WE HAVE A MECHANISM WHERE WE ARE RECEIVING THAT INTELLIGENCE RATE TODAY WE HAVE RECEIVED TWO SHIPMENTS FROM THE STOCKPILE, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE MORE. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND ORDERING AS IS EVERYONE ELSE TO GET ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT IN PLACE. A TIMELINE OF WHAT HAPPENED OR WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE COUNTY SO FAR IS WE WERE PREPARING FOR THIS, BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW IT WAS COMING, AND WE HAD OUR FIRST CASE ON THE 15TH OF MARCH. IN RESPONSE, WE WORKED TOGETHER WITH OTHER OFFICIALS, AND WE ELECTED TO DECLARE A LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY. THIS OPENED UP AVENUES FOR US TO BE ABLE TO REACT MORE QUICKLY AND HELP OUR PEOPLE AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS QUICKLY. FROM THERE, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY RECEIVING ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT AND GATHERING INTELLIGENCE AND SENDING IT OUT TO OUR PARTNERS SO EVERYBODY IS UP TO DATE AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON. AND FROM OUR OTHER PARTNERSHIPS, STARTING ON MONDAY, NOT NOW, BUT MONDAY THROUGH THE HEALTH CARE COALITION WE WILL BE SETTING UP A FIRST RESPONDER TESTING LOCATION IN GREENVILLE COUNTY THAT WILL BE COVERING 11 COUNTIES. THE FIRST RESPONDERS WILL BE THE ONLY PEOPLE TO BE TESTED IN THIS LOCATION. SO THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IS THAT WE NEED OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO BE CLEARED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER SO THEY CAN BE OUT HELPING WITH EVERYDAY ISSUES, LET ALONE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CRISIS. WE ARE TRYING TO CORDATE ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND WE ARE ONE BIG TEAM, WHETHER IT BE THE CITY, COUNTY OR OTHER ENTITIES. AS FOR THAT, AS I SAID, THAT STARTS MONDAY. THAT IS ALL I HAVE AT THIS TIME. >> FOR PURPOSES OF OUR QUESTION AND ANSWER, ERIC, IF YOU WOULD COME BACK UP HERE, AND THE REST OF YOU. I WILL PUT YOU IN CHARGE SINCE YOU HAVE THE WHITE COAT. >> ANY QUESTIONS? [INDISCERNIBLE] >> WE HAVE A ROBUST SUPPLY OF PE -- PPE. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT SUPPLY, WE HAVE ALSO GONE AHEAD AND PURCHASED SOME SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT TO DISINFECT IT AND REUSE IT. WE ARE PRETTY CONFIDENT RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE AN APPROPRIATE SUPPLY CURRENTLY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SOURCE IT AS RAPIDLY AS WE CAN. >> CAN YOU TELL US HOW MANY VENTILATORS ARE AVAILABLE [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THAT IS REALLY TWO QUESTIONS. WE DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF VENTILATORS. WE HAVE PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL SUPPLY AND WE HAVE THEM DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. WITH RESPECT TO THE SINGLE VENTILATOR OR TWO PATIENTS, THAT DEVICE THAT WAS DEVELOPED IS NOW UNDER FDA APPROVAL FOR USE IN PATIENTS THAT ARE SICK WITH COVID AND REQUIRE A VENTILATOR BUT ONE IS NOT AVAILABLE. SO THOSE INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING IN NEW YORK AND LOUISIANA. IF YOU KNOW CURRENTLY, WHAT ARE THE DAILY TESTING CAPACITIES [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THAT IS A MOVING NUMBER. WE ARE RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK INCREASING THE CAPABILITY BOTH WITHIN OUR OWN LAB AND IN ADDITION WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH A PRIVATE LAB IN GREENVILLE, AND IN ADDITION, THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA IS DEVELOPING CAPACITY. WE ARE PRETTY SURE BITE NEXT WEEK WE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO TEST A LARGE NUMBER OF FOLKS EVERY DAY. >> THE NUMBER OF TESTS THAT WE HAVE BACKLOGGED [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I’M NOT AWARE OF THE SPECIFIC NUMBER THAT IS CURRENTLY BACKLOGGED RIGHT NOW. HAVE HAD A TURNAROUND TIME ON SOME OF THE PRIVATE TEST THAT HAS GONE OUT TO SEVEN DAYS. WE ARE HOPEFUL WITH BRINGING ALL OF THIS IN HOUSE AND WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR LOCAL PRIVATE PARTNERS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE TIME TO UNDER A DAY. >> CANDICE BEGIN LITTLE BIT TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY -- CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT YESTERDAY [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I THINK THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. THERE IS WHAT THE STATE WILL DO, AND THEN WHAT WE WILL DO AS A CLINICAL ENTITY IN THE INTEREST OF OUR COMMUNITY, SO WE INTEND TO AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE ADDITIONAL TESTING. WE WILL WORK UNTIL WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE CAN RAPIDLY TEST EVERYBODY WHO NEEDS IT. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> CURRENTLY I DO NIGHT -- I DO NOT THINK THAT TESTING HAS TOO MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON THE TREATMENT. WHAT IT REALLY DOES IMPACT IS WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE HOSPITAL AND WE SUSPECT THEY HAVE THE DISEASE, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A POSITIVE TEST, YOU HAVE TO USE ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE WOULD USE FOR SOMEONE ACTUALLY WITH IT. IF THEY ARE NEGATIVE WE CAN STOP USING ALL OF THAT EQUIPMENT. YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW HELPFUL IT IS TO QUICKLY DECIDE WHO IS POSITIVE AND WHO IS NEGATIVE. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> BOTH IN THE UPSTATE AND THE MIDLANDS, THERE IS DRIVE-THROUGH TESTING. WE DO REQUIRE A ORDER FROM A DOCTOR BECAUSE WE NEED TO TRACK PEOPLE. WE NEED TO HAVE THEM REGISTERED AND GO THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE PROCESSES THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY ENCOUNTER. THAT CAN BE DONE VIRTUALLY THROUGH THE PRISMA WEBSITE. IT CAN ALSO BE DONE BY CONTACTING YOUR PHYSICIAN WHO CAN PUT THE ORDER IN AND DIRECT YOU TO ONE OF THE TESTING STATIONS. THOSE ARE AVAILABLE BOTH IN GREENVILLE AND COLUMBIA. >> IN THE CASE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE [INDISCERNIBLE] >> SO THEY CAN GO TO THE PRISMA HEALTH VIRTUAL WEBSITE OR GO TO THE WEBSITE AND GO TO THE COVID-19 PAGE AND ENTER THAT PATHWAY. WE CAN DO THAT AND GET THAT ALL SET UP. THAT CAPABILITY EXISTS TODAY AS WE SPEAK. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I DO NOT THINK THAT IS A TRUE STATEMENT. WE ARE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT FOLLOWING THE CDC GUIDANCE. THIS IS A TECHNICAL ISSUE, BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PERFORMING HIGH-RISK PROCEDURES SUCH AS PLACING AIRWAY TUBES OR OTHER SURGICAL PROCEDURES, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CDC IS TO USE A SIMPLE SURGICAL FACEMASK. WE HAVE A LARGE SUPPLY OF THOSE. TO CONSERVE THE MORE PROTECTED AND 95 MASK’S, WE HAVE INSTRUCTED BASED ON THIS GUIDANCE ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO USE THE SURGICAL MASKS. >> IN TRACKING AND DEVELOPING [INDISCERNIBLE] PEOPLE ARE BEING TREATING AND SOME ARE RECOVERING. WHEN CAN WE GET THE [INDISCERNIBLE] IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW IF PEOPLE ARE RECOVERING AND WHAT THE [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I THINK THAT GETS DOWN TO TESTING AND UNDERSTANDING THE PREVALENCE. WHEN WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE THIS DISEASE, THEN THAT WILL BECOME MUCH MORE CLEAR, AND WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT. GETTING TO THAT DENOMINATOR, I THINK THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE UNTIL WE GET A ROBUST SERIES OF TESTING GOING. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I WOULD SAY THAT I AM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC AT THIS POINT. I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH HOW THE UPSTATE IS REALLY EMBRACING THESE DIFFICULT GUIDELINES TO HAVE PEOPLE STAY HOME AND STAY OUT OF PUBLIC LIFE. THAT WILL HELP US MORE THAN ANYTHING. I AM IMPRESSED WITH HOW OUR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMMUNITIES HAVE PULLED TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE ON THIS. I AM REALLY PROUD OF MY TEAM AND EVERYTHING THEY HAVE DONE. I AM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, AND I DON’T MEAN TO SAY THAT EVERYBODY CAN STOP AND GO OUT AND DO THE NORMAL THINGS THEY CAN DO, BUT IF WE KEEP DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING, I FEEL LIKE WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS AND DO WELL. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THERE ARE MULTIPLE MODELS OUT THERE AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, AND I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT IT GETS BACK TO THE TESTING AND UNDERSTANDING THE PREVALENCE OF THE DISEASE. AS EVERY WEEK GOES BY, THE MODELS GET MORE REFINED. AT THIS POINT, WE ARE REALLY LOOKING AT SOCIAL DISTANCING LASTING POTENTIALLY THROUGH APRIL, MAYBE LONGER, BUT THE DATA IS REALLY GOING TO DICTATE HOW LONG THAT NEEDS TO LAST. >> I SEE EVERY DAY DOWNTOWN PEOPLE ARE STILL WALKING AROUND OUTSIDE [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I THINK THAT IS A GREAT MESSAGE FOR THE MEDIA TO CARRY. SOCIAL DISTANCING IS REALLY BEING SIX FEET FROM OTHERS. THIS VIRUS DOESN’T LEAP ACROSS THE ROOM. IT OCCURS WHEN SOMEONE HAS THE DISEASE AND THEY ARE WITHIN THREADS -- WITHIN SIX FEET OF THESE PEOPLE. YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF JUST BY DOING THAT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU CAN PROTECT THE PEOPLE MORE VULNERABLE. IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO COMMUNITY COMMITMENT. THERE IS A LOT WE CAN DO ON THE HEALTH CARE SIDE FOR THERE’S A LOT THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO. THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE ARE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS. WE ARE LEARNING THAT THERE’S A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO BASED ON WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JUST SET OUT. IF YOU WOULDN’T MIND [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THAT IS CORRECT. ACROSS THE STATE CITIES TOOK ACTIONS AT VARIOUS LEVELS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL DISTANCING, FIRST WITH RESTAURANTS AND BARS, AND THEN THE GOVERNOR BECAME INVOLVED AND ISSUED THE EMERGENCY ORDER. THAT IS WHY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS CHOSEN TO INVOLVE HIMSELF. I THINK THE WAY WE SOUGHT, WE ARE ADDRESSING THE ISSUES OF THE RESTAURANTS AND BARS, AND THEN THE GOVERNOR DID IT LATER, AND THAT IS FINE, BUT ALSO AMPLIFYING WHAT HE DID IN TERMS OF SOCIAL DISTANCING. THEN THE GOVERNOR CAME BACK WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. WE LOOKED AT THE PHYSICAL LOCATIONS IN THE CITY WHERE WE ANTICIPATED SOME PROBLEMS, AND AS YOU MENTIONED, DOWNTOWN IN GENERAL. I WOULD SAY THIS ABOUT THE ORDINANCES IN COLUMBIA AND CHARLESTON, THEY HAD THEIR ISSUES ALSO. WE SAW PROBLEMS IN TERMS OF PERHAPS SOME OVERREACH, BUT ALSO THE MULTITUDE OF EXCEPTIONS, IT WAS TROUBLING. THERE WERE SO MANY THAT WE BEGIN TO WONDER IF IT MADE A DIFFERENCE OR NOT. THERE ARE SOME ARTICLES IN THE POST IN THE COURIER TODAY ABOUT WAS THERE REALLY ANY IMPACT ON THE STREET BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE EXCEPTIONS. SO THEY WERE NOT PERFECT INSTRUMENTS. WE ARE EVALUATING WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID IN THE MEANTIME. THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT CONCERNS US RIGHT NOW AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH PERSONAL SERVICES, SO WE HAVE URGED THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT. I BELIEVE HE WILL COULD WE CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO URGE THE GOVERNOR TO FINE-TUNE A DEFINITION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES. >> I KNOW WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY, BUT YOUR MESSAGE TO THE PEOPLE [INDISCERNIBLE] >> ABSOLUTELY. OUR MESSAGE HAS BEEN TO STAY HOME. IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE FOR RECREATION, OBSERVE THE SOCIAL DISTANCING THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT. WE DO HAVE A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE PRETTY A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THAT PROBLEM. IT IS A HABIT OF PEOPLE COMING DOWNTOWN, WHICH IS A GOOD THING, AND WE CAN ANTICIPATE THAT. WE WILL BE PUTTING SPECIAL EYES ON SOME OF THESE AREAS. ALSO YOU CAN HAVE ISSUES, AND ALL OF US NEED TO WATCH THIS. >> YOU SAID YOU WERE URGING THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE ACTION ON SO LONGS AND -- SALONS AND BARBERSHOPS. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> OBVIOUSLY THOSE ARE ONE-ON-ONE TYPE BUSINESSES, SO A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE ASKING ABOUT THAT, AND SOME OF THESE BUSINESSES, THERE HAS BEEN SOME AMBIGUITY ABOUT THAT. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> FIRST YOU HAD THE ISSUE OF SO MANY EXCEPTIONS, AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE SOMETHING TO WORK THROUGH. I THINK THERE WERE ELEMENTS OF THAT IS PEOPLE INTERPRETED TO BE THAT YOU REALLY CANNOT LEAVE THE CITY OF CHARLESTON FOR A JOB, AND WE WERE BACK-AND-FORTH ON THAT. WE’RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT AND BETTER DEFINE THOSE TERMS, AND THAT IS WHAT WE EXPECTED TO DO TO MAKE IT A MORE NARROW FOCUS. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> FIRST OF ALL, WE MAY OR MAY NOT FEEL THE NEED TO JUST ENUNCIATE OUR POLICY AGAIN WE COULD STILL PASS RESOLUTIONS AND STILL URGE PEOPLE. IF THOSE ORDINANCES HAVE A REALLY GOOD PURPOSE, IT MIGHT BE JUST TO AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE BUT THEY CERTAINLY DID THAT, TO STAY HOME. WE MAY FIND ANOTHER MEANS TO DO THAT. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I REALLY WANT TO LET ALL OF YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AND CERTAINLY THE MAYORS OFFICE AND I’M SURE THE COUNTY AS WELL IS THAT PEOPLE, PETITIONING HAS ALREADY BEGUN. EVERYTHING IMAGINAL HAS DEEMED ITSELF ESSENTIAL. CLEARLY WE START WITH PUBLIC SAFETY ENTITIES. AFTER THAT IT BECOMES A RATHER LONG LINE OF PEOPLE MAKING A CASE HEARD IT IS A DIFFICULT THING TO DO. INHERENTLY I THINK IT WILL BE ARBITRARY TO A DEGREE SO YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE AMBIGUITY, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR TOLD ME TODAY THEY ARE WORKING ON AND THEY ARE RECOGNIZING THE ISSUES. THE GOVERNOR IS ACCEPTING ADVICE ON THE MATTER AND CONSULTING A LOT OF PEOPLE. ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS [INDISCERNIBLE] >> WE TALKED ABOUT THAT PRINT WE WILL SEND HIM --WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT A GOOD LIST FOR YOU CAN LOOK AT OTHER STATES, OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND YOU CAN GET SOME GOOD IDEAS. IF YOU PICK UP THE ORDINANCES, YOU MAY SEE SOME ON THAT LIST THAT MAKE YOU KIND OF SCRATCH YOUR HEAD. AGAIN, THE MESSAGING, THE OVERRIDING MESSAGE IS ABOUT STAYING AT HOME. EVEN WHEN WE TELL PEOPLE THEY CAN GO OUT FOR RECREATION, IT PRESENTS SOME MIXED MESSAGING. GETTING UP FOR RECREATION IS IMPORTANT, BUT YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A PLACE THAT IS NARROW AND CONFINED. THAT IS KEY. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I HAVE NOT TALKED TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO PUT THAT ON HOLD FOR NOW. >> WAS IT YOUR INTENTION TO ANNOUNCE A STAY-AT-HOME ORDER TODAY? >> WE WERE ALREADY LOOKING AT THE ISSUES AND WE KNEW WE HAD TO ADDRESS IT. AS PART OF THE DISCUSSION WE ARE AWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE, SO WE WERE LOOKING AT A REVISED VERSION FROM WHAT THE OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THAT COULD WELL BE INEVITABLE. I GUESS THESE GENTLEMEN COULD ANSWER THAT BETTER THAN WHAT I CAN IN TERMS OF THE STATEWIDE NUMBERS. WE WOULD STILL ADVOCATE THAT HE BE LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOOKING AT WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER ESSENTIAL SERVICES. PERHAPS WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO DATE TO BE READY FOR THIS, SO I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE THAT THE GOVERNOR TAKE EVERY MEASURE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY AT HOME. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> PERSONALLY I THINK IT IS A MATTER OF WHEN, BUT IT MAY NOT LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT WE SAW WITH THE CITY ORDINANCES, MAY BE A VARIATION ON IT. >> I WANT TO COMMENT THAT FROM THE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE THERE IS A FINE LINE BETWEEN HOW MUCH GOVERNMENT CAN CONTROL EVERY ASPECT OF A PERSON’S LIFE EVEN UNDER THESE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. IF YOU MAKE ORDERS THAT ARE UNENFORCEABLE, WHICH COULD BE THE CASE SUCH AS LOCAL ORDINANCES MANDATING CERTAIN ACTIONS BY CITIZENS, IF THEY ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE, YOU ARE RELYING ON THE PUBLIC TO VOLUNTARY COMPLY, AND TO A LARGE EXTENT WE BELIEVE THEY ARE VOLUNTARILY COMPLYING PIT THERE IS A CAREFUL BALANCE. HOW MUCH CONTROL CAN YOU HAVE OVER ONE INDIVIDUAL, CERTAINLY GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS ARE APPROPRIATE, ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES, YOU ASKED ABOUT THAT, WHEN PEOPLE GET TO THE POINT IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CANNOT GET FOOD FOR THEIR FAMILIES, BASIC ESSENTIALS THAT THEIR DEPENDENT ON BECAUSE THOSE BUSINESSES ARE SHUT DOWN, YOU HAVE A RISK OF DEVELOPING SOME SORT OF PANIC AMONG SOME SECTIONS OF THE PUBLICATIONS -- POPULATIONS. SO YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE. I THINK THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO REPRESENT THE CITIZENS AND REINFORCE S PRACTICES AND THE GUIDELINES NOT ONLY TO PROTECT INDIVIDUALS BUT OTHERS AROUND THOSE INDIVIDUALS PUT I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING SO FAR IT IF WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT, LIKE THE DOCTOR SAID, I THINK WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS OK. >> PEOPLE CAN DO THINGS IN SOME AREAS THAT IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE DOWNTOWN. BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO ADDRESS THAT THROUGH GUIDELINES AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE SENSITIVE TO THEIR OWN HEALTH AND TO THE HEALTH OF OTHERS. WHEN THEY KNOW WHY IT IS IMPORTANT, I THINK YOU WILL SEE HIGH LEVELS OF COMPLIANCE. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THE GOVERNOR IS GETTING INPUT FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE. HE HAS AVAILABLE TO HIM A LOT MORE EXPERTS AND KNOWLEDGE AND ADVICE THEN WE HAVE IN GREENVILLE. HE IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA IN MY OPINION. I THINK THE CITIES CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT I THINK THE RULES OUGHT TO BE SET AT THAT LEVEL AND NOT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND THAT APPLIES WITH THE LOCAL LAW ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I SAID IF IT GETS TO THAT. WE ARE NOT THERE YET, BUT I HAVE GOTTEN CITIZENS WHO ARE SAYING SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING HAS TO BE SHUT DOWN OR WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE. THAT IS ONE EXTREME CASE PER YOU HAVE TO BE REASONABLE. UNFORTUNATE HE SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE ANYWAY. THE PRESIDENT SAID THIS IS A WAR. YOU HAVE TO BE REASONABLE ABOUT IT. PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE. MAYBE THEY HAVE TO GO TO A PHARMACY. DRUGSTORE OR A GROCERY STORE OR THEY HAVE TO BE AVAILABLE, OR IF THEY ARE NOT, THEN YOU WILL HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES, I BELIEVE. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> I’M SORRY, I DID NOT UNDERSTAND YOU. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> ALL WE CAN REALLY SAY IS WHAT THEY SAID PREVIOUSLY, IT IS THE FIRST DEATH THAT HAS BEEN RESTORED -- REAP PORTED -- REPORTED, TO WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR THE 10TH DEATH IN THE STATE, BUT THEY’RE VERY WELL COULD BE MORE AROUND THE STATE TODAY THAT JUST HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTED YET. IT WAS A GREENVILLE COUNTY RESIDENT, AND THE PERSON IN THE GROUPS THAT WE HAVE MENTIONED, HIGH RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS, AND THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION WHEN THEY GET SICK, ARE THEY GETTING MORE THAN JUST A MILD ILLNESS, THAN THEY NEED TO CONTACT A PROVIDER. PEOPLE WITH SIGNIFICANT UNDERLYING CONDITIONS PROBABLY OUGHT TO CONTACT THEIR PROVIDER AT THE INITIAL ONSET, AND THEN THEY CAN BE GIVEN GUIDANCE ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS GOING AROUND NOW, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT HIGH-RISK TO GET SICKER I TALKING TO THEIR PROVIDER, IT CAN HELP ASCERTAIN IF IT IS SOMETHING ELSE THEY CAN BE TREATED SO WE ARE NOT IGNORING OTHER THINGS PAIRED THAT IS IMPORTANT ALSO. PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT ARE AT HIGH RISK, WHEN THEY START TO GET SICK, SHOULD CONTACT THEIR PROVIDER TO GET GUIDANCE AND SEE IF IT COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE. PEOPLE WITH MORE THAN A MILD ILLNESS, CONTACT THEIR PROVIDER TO SEE IF IT IS CONSISTENT WITH COBIT OR SOMETHING ELSE. AS WAS MENTIONED, IN SOME PEOPLE, TESTING IS INDICATED FOR CLINICAL CARE THERE THERE ARE GROUPS WHERE IT IS PARTICULARLY INDICATED TO HELP GUIDE EXCLUSION, HOW LONG A HEALTH CARE WORKER HAS TO BE OUT OF WORK WHO MAY BE POSITIVE. IT IS USEFUL TO KNOW IF THAT PERSON IS ACTUALLY INFECTED. THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE THAT WHERE TESTING IS MORE INDICATED, AND IN OTHERS IT MAY NOT BE FOR EVERYBODY. THE THRESHOLD IS LOWER FOR PEOPLE IN NURSING HOMES AND DIALYSIS CENTERS. AS FAR AS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS [INDISCERNIBLE] ARE THERE ANY GUIDELINES FOR THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THIS IS BEEN A BIG CONCERN. THE STATE AND THE HECK -- D- HEC IS COMING UP WITH WAYS TO ADDRESS THAT. WE REALIZE THAT IS A CHANT OF THAT A PERSON WITHOUT A PLACE COULD GO COULD BE SICK AND THE COUNTIES ARE WORKING ON PLANES --PLANS TO DEAL WITH THAT. THERE IS GUIDANCE THAT WE CAN GIVE ON SAFELY MANAGING PEOPLE IN PLACES THAT YOU MIGHT NOT TRADITIONALLY THINK OF. THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE IN HOMELESS SHELTERS TO MINIMIZE THE RISK TO OTHERS JUST LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK WITH COVID-19 AT HOME. PEOPLE CAN STAY HOME IF THEY ARE NOT SEVERELY ILL AND BE MANAGED AND THERE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS. THOSE CAN ALSO APPLY TO SETTINGS SUCH AS HOMELESS SHELTERS IF THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY, IF THEY HAVE SINGLE ROOMS, IF THEY HAVE A WAY TO COHORT PEOPLE APART. UNTIL MORE CONCRETE PLANS ARE SET, THAT SITUATION, WE CAN WORK WITH THE FACILITIES AND PEOPLE TO GIVE GUIDANCE TO MINIMIZE THE RISK. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT POPULATION AS WELL. WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING ACROSS DOMAINS OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS TO SET UP POTENTIAL MEDICAL SHELTERS FOR PEOPLE THAT DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO APPROPRIATELY ISOLATE OR HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN CONVALESCE. THERE WILL BE MORE TO FOLLOW ON THAT. WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW WITH BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY PARTNERS IN ADDITION TO A LOT OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR AGENCIES SUPPORTING THIS POPULATION. >> IF AN INDIVIDUAL SOMEHOW [INDISCERNIBLE] >> ANYONE THAT IS ILL RIGHT NOW NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, SO THAT WOULD BE MY FIRST RECOMMENDATION, EITHER VIRTUALLY OR ACTUALLY GOING TO A FACILITY OR CALLING YOUR PROVIDER, THAT IS IMPORTANT. BOTH HERE IN GREENVILLE AND COLUMBIA, THE SOCIAL SERVICES TEAMS ARE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS APPROPRIATE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNIQUE. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF ACTIVITY IN THIS AREA RIGHT NOW. >> JUST FOR FUTURE PANELS LIKE THIS [INDISCERNIBLE] IS THERE ANYWAY WAY THAT YOU GUYS PLAN TO SET UP SOMETHING IN THE COMMUNITY [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THAT IS A GOOD POINT. WE KIND OF WANTED TO LAUNCH WITH THIS, BUT THERE REALLY OUGHT TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FACEBOOK INTERVIEWS I THINK TO FOLLOW AN EVENT LIKE THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS. WE THINK PEOPLE WANT TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS AND JUST HAVE MORE LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY PIT THAT IS AN EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] WHAT ARE THE CITY AND COUNTY AND HEALTH OFFICIALS [INDISCERNIBLE] FOR EXAMPLE, COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT HAVE RETURNED HOME OR SOMEWHERE THEY MAY NOT BE WELCOME AND OVER TIME [INDISCERNIBLE] >> IF SOMEBODY IS POSITIVE, AND THEY NEED TO BE SEGREGATED, THAT IS WHY WE ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, WHERE PEOPLE LIKE THAT CAN GO. I KEEP HEARING THAT HOTELS AND LOCAL UNIVERSITIES ARE IN DISCUSSION TO OFFER UP SPACES DIE CANNOT ADDRESS THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT I KNOW -- THEY ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY SPACES, I KNOW THAT. MORE TO FOLLOW ON THAT. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED, BUT A LOT OF THESE THINGS SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN THOUGHT ABOUT IN TERMS OF PREPARING FOR FUTURE EMERGENCIES. THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT. >> ARE YOU SAYING ON A PERSONAL SCALE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE -- >> IN TERMS OF THE ENTIRE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, IF YOU WILL, BUT OTHER PEOPLE CAN PROBABLY SPEAK TO THAT BETTER THAN I CAN. >> [INDISCERNIBLE] STARTING MONDAY, YOU ARE SAYING FIRST RESPONDERS [INDISCERNIBLE] >> IT WOULD BE THE FIRST RESPONDER COMMUNITY, POLICE, FIRE, EMS. WE WILL LEAVE IT TO THE COUNTY AND CITY MUCIN THIS -- MUNICIPALITY TO DETERMINE THAT. SO LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A COLLABORATION TO THE COALITION AND WE ARE JUST A PARTNER. WE WILL BE WORKING THROUGH THOSE --THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE SO THIS IS A NEW CIRCUMSTANCES FOR ALL OF US. >> SO WILL THEY ALL BE TESTED REGARDLESS OF SYMPTOMS? >> THEY WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SCREENING PROCESS BEFORE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> THEY HAVE TO MEET THE SAME CRITERIA AS ANYONE ELSE BUT THIS IS JUST ONE EFFORT TO GET THE PUBLIC SAFETY FOLKS BACK ON THE STREETS TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> JUST TO STREAMLINE, STRICTLY TO GET OUR PEOPLE BACK ON THE FRONT LINES. [INDISCERNIBLE] >> FOR THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION THAT I’M SPEAKING ABOUT, IT WILL BE SICKLY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. IF THE LEADERS HAVE ANOTHER PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES, I CANNOT SPEAK TO THAT. I BELIEVE THAT PRISMA AND OUR OTHER PARTNERS ARE STREAMLINING THEIR PROCESSES AS WELL. WITH THE UNDERSTANDING I HAVE, THE STATE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CREATE A REAGENT FOR THE TESTING SO THAT WILL INCREASE. I DO NOT KNOW, THEY CAN SPEAK TO THAT, BUT -- >> SAME SYSTEM WITH PRISMA ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER BEING FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE SANITATION AS WELL, SO POLICE, FIRE, SANITATION. >> WE HAVE LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES, SO PROBABLY TIME FOR ONE OR TWO MORE QUESTIONS. >> IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE [INDISCERNIBLE] >> A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO MAKE RATE SACRIFICES. PEOPLE IN BUSINESSES HAVE MADE GREAT SACRIFICES, A LOT OF SACRIFICES INC. MAY. WHEN YOU SEE THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS, SPENDING EXTRA HOURS AND TIME IN WHAT COULD BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION, THE POLICE, FIRE, SANITATION, THE BEST THING ALL OF US CAN DO IS TO RESPECT WHAT THEY ARE DOING, AND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO STAY HOME AND OBSERVING SOCIAL DISTANCING. RESPECTING AT AND FOLLOWING THE RULES. AS HE SAID A MOMENT AGO, WE C1 PULL DOWN IN THE PARK AND WE’RE DOING THE OUTRAGEOUS THINGS IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO PLENTY OF PEOPLE WERE NOT DOING THAT. THEY WERE VERY CAREFUL FLAMES. IF YOU WILL, SO AGAIN, I THINK IT’S A MATTER OF RESPECTING THOSE. REALLY ON THE FRONT LINES BY DOING OUR PART. OKAY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AND AGAIN, WE’LL KIND OF WORK IN PROGRESS. WE HAVE HAD SOME AS I SAID DISCUSSION WITH THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE ABOUT BRINGING TO PEOPLE. COLUMBIA HERE YOU CAN SEE THEM IN PERSON IF YOU WILL. BUT WE DO LOOK FORWARD TO PRISON HEALTH BEING PART OF THIS EVERYDAY. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE MAJOR KNOX WHITE OUR AREA LEADERS AND LOCAL HEALTH OFFICIALS. THE MAYOR SAYS THE PURPOSE IS TO BRING TOGETHER THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW THE CORONAVIRUS IS IMPACTING. OUR AREA WE ALSO GOT AN UPDATE ON THE NUMBER OF CORONAVIRUS CASES IN THE STATE. DHEC SAYS THERE ARE FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY SIX CONFIRMED CASES. SOUTH CAROLINA NOW IF YOU WANT IN GREENVILLE COUNTY. ONE IN ANDREW COUNTY AND 9 IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY AND WE LEARNED OF ONE MORE DEATH TODAY. IT IS THE FIRST DEATH IN THE UPSTATE AND CONNECTION TO THE CORONAVIRUS. AND THAT BRINGS THE STATE’S TOTAL. F2 AND WE ALSO HEARD FROM A DOCTOR AT PRISMA HEALTH WHO SAYS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19 IN LOCAL DRIVE THROUGH LINES AND ALSO IN LOCAL CLINICS EMPHASIZING THAT IT IS HE OFFICIALS SAY WE NEED TO YOU NEED TO DISTANCE OURSELVES FROM OTHERS WASH OUR HANDS AND THE MESSAGE THAT PEOPLE TO STAY AT HOME AT THE VERY FIRST INKLING OF AN ILLNESS. THAT COULD BE COVID-19 HE SAID PRISMA HELL HAS INCREASED ITS BED CAPACITY AND JUST PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT OR PPE. FROM AROUND THE WORLD. HE SAYS PRISMA HAS A ROBUST SUPPLY OF AND EQUIPMENT TO FACT IT ANDRE IS IT AND HE SAYS THERE IS ALSO SOME WORK TO MAKE FACE SHIELDS AND SURGICAL MASKS IN THE UPSTATE AND WORK TO SPEED UP THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET A COVID-19 TEST RESULT. GREENVILLE MAYOR KNOX WHITE SAYS WE CAN ANOTHER UPDATE LIKE THIS FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS SOMETIME NEXT WEEK. AND WE ARE ALSO FOLLOWING MORE BREAKING NEWS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT THE US HOUSE HAS APPROVED THE 2.22. REALLY IN DOLLAR RESCUE PACKAGE. IT WILL SEND CHECKS TO MILLIONS OF AMERICANS BOLSTER UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND OFFER LOANS GRANTS AND TAX BREAKS TO BUSINESSES. THE BILL IS NOW HEADED TO THE PRESIDENT’S DESK AND THE PRESIDENT HAS INDICATED THAT HE WILL SIGN. WE WILL OF COURSE BRING YOU ALL OF THE BREAKING NEWS UPDATES WERE FOLLOWING TODAY COMING UP ON WYFF NEWS. FOUR FIVE AND SIX AND YOU CAN ALWA

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