South Carolina schools will remain closed until the end of April, governor says Executive order will also apply to the state’s public colleges, universities, and technical colleges Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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STORMS TONIGHT. I WILL MAP IT OUT FOR YOU. GABRIELLE: GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I’M GABRIELLE KOMOROWSKI IN OUR GREENVILLE STUDIOS. NIGEL: I’M NIGEL ROBERTSON AND TONIGHT, I’M ANCHORING LIVE FROM HOME. WE ARE FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT. GABRIELLE: SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOLS WILL REMAIN CLOSED THROUGH THE END OF APRIL AND STUDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK REMOTELY. THAT’S ACCORDING SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR HENRY MCMASTER AND SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION MOLLY SPEARMAN. THEY RELEASED A JOINT STATEMENT SAYING IN PART, REST ASSURED IF THERE IS ANY WAY TO SAFELY OPEN OUR SCHOOLS EARLIER WE WILL DO THAT BUT SCHOOLS MUST REMAIN CLOSED TO PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF SOUTH CAROLINIANS. THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALSO APPLIES TO THE STATE’S PUBLIC COLLEGES AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES. JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS THE DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS FOR GREENVILLE COUNTY SCHOOLS, TIM WALLER. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR JUST A SHORT TIME AGO. WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE TO GREENVILLE COUNTY PARENTS? WHAT WAS THE DISTRICT’S INITIAL REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER? >> MY MESSAGE TO THEM WOULD BE HANG IN THERE. I THINK ALL OF US KNEW THIS WAS COMING. WE COULD NOT TO GET TO THE BANK INTO THE GOVERNOR MADE IT OFFICIAL. HERE WE ARE TODAY. HANG IN THERE, WE ARE GOING TO DO A LOT MORE OF IT. >> OUR TEACHERS COME -- PREPARED TO CONDUCT ADDITIONAL WEEKS OF E-LEARNING? >> I THINK THEY WILL BE FINE WITH IT. WHAT WE STARTED WITH, WE ARE NOT EVEN THROUGH THE SECOND WEEK OF E-LEARNING. WE STARTED WITH SOME REMEDIAL WORK. WE CALLED IT REVIEW AND REMEDIAL. NOW WE WILL ROLL OUT NEW CONTENT. THAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER APRIL 20. WHEN STUDENTS COME BACK FROM SPRING BREAK, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE BRAND-NEW CONTENT, WE ARE TALKING GRADES 3-12. WE WILL HAVE CHROMEBOOK SQUARE PARENTS CAN DOWNLOAD LESSON PLANS FROM TEACHERS. -- WHERE PARENTS CAN DOWNLOAD LESSON PLANS FROM TEACHERS. GABRIELLE: WILL SPRING BREAK BE AFFECTED BY THIS? >> WE ARE NOT TOUCHING SPRING BREAK. THAT IS GOOD NEWS IF YOU HAVE A TRIP PLANNED SOMEWHERE. I DON’T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE TRAVELING GIVEN THE SITUATION IN THIS COUNTRY. WE DEFINITELY FELT THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING WE WANTED TO NOT TOUCH BECAUSE PARENTS ARE TIRED, STUDENTS ARE TIRED, ANXIETY HAS BEEN HIGH. TEACHERS HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF EXTRA WORK, THEY COULD USE A BREAK AS WELL. >> THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS. >> BREAKING ON WALL STREET. BIG RALLIES FOR THE STOCK MARKET TODAY. THIS IS HOW THE MAJOR INDEXES FINISHED THE DAY THE DOW NASDAQ -- THE DAY, THE DOW, NASDAQ AND S&P 500 ALL IN THE GREEN. THE DOW GAINING MORE THAN 2 000 POINTS, THAT IS THE BEST DAY SINCE 1933. THAT BRINGS THE DOW BACK ABOVE 2000 POINTS. BREAKING NEWS OUT OF WASHINGTON TONIGHT, SENATORS ARE STILL DEBATING THE CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS BILL. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK AT THE CAPITOL RIGHT NOW. BUT SAY THEY ARE NEARING A DEAL ON THE TWO TRILLION DOLLAR ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL TO HELP AMERICAN WORKERS WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. WE WILL HAVE MORE ON THE WORK TO PASS THE BILL COMING IN A FEW MINUTES. GABRIELLE: BREAKING NEWS, COVID-19 CASES CONTINUE TO RISE IN THE CAROLINAS AND GEORGIA. LETS TAKE A LOOK AT THE LATEST NUMBERS FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS IN THE CAROLINAS AND GEORGIA. SOUTH CAROLINA IS REPORTING 342 CASES AND 5 DEATHS. THE CASES IN SOUTH CAROLINA ARE ACROSS 36 COUNTIES. WE ARE TOLD MORE THAN 2000 PEOPLE HAVE TESTED NEGATIVE FOR THE VIRUS. NORTH CAROLINA IS REPORTING 398 CASES. STATE OFFICIALS THERE SAY THEY HAVE COMPLETED OVER 8 000 TESTS. NO VIRUS RELATED DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN CAROLINA. THE NUMBER OF DEATHS RELATED TO THE CORONAVIRUS ROSE TODAY IN GEORGIA. THE STATE IS NOW REPORTING THAT 32 PEOPLE HAVE DIED. AND THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 1 000 CASES IN GEORGIA BREAKING NEWS OUT OF ANDERSON COUNTY, OFFICIALS SAY AN EMPLOYEE AT ANDERSON REGIONAL AIRPORT TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID 19. THEY SAID THAT PERSON HAS NOT BEEN AT THE AIRPORT FOR THE LAST TEN DAYS BUT ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN SENT HOME TO SELF QUARANTINE. THE COUNTY SAYS THE AIRPORT IS OPEN BUT THE TERMINAL IS CLOSED. THEY TELL US PEOPLE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO PURCHASE SELF SERVICE GAS AND JET FUEL FROM 8 TO FIVE WITH -- 8:00-5:00 WITH A CALL IN. NIGEL: SIMPSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR THE CITY. IT’S A 60 DAY ORDINANCE THAT ALLOWS COUNCIL TO MEET REMOTELY. IT WILL ENSURE ALL CITY EMPLOYEES ARE PAID DURING THE EMERGENCY. ALSO, THE CITY IS DELAYING BUSINESS LICENSE FEES OWED. AS SOUTH CAROLINA SEES OVER 300 CASES OF COVID 19 THE GOVERNOR SAYS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN BREAK UP GROUPS OF THREE OR MORE PEOPLE. BUT ARE WE SEEING CROWDS HERE IN THE UPSTATE? OUR RENAE WUNDERLICH IS LIVE IN GREENVILLE. >> I DON’T KNOW IF IT IS THE RAIN OR COVID BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY CROWDS TODAY. WE HAVE BARELY SEEN ANY PEOPLE. AS YOU MENTIONED YESTERDAY, HENRY MCMASTER CALLED ON LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BREAK UP GROIPS OF THREE OR MORE PEOPLE. THOSE WHO DO NOT DISPERSE COULD BE FINED $100 AND SPEND UP TO 30 DAYS IN JAIL BUT HE TELLS ME MOST PEOPLE WILL COMPLY WITH THE ORDER SO THAT THEY CAN AVOID ALL OF THAT. >> THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS WRITE SOMEBODY A CITATION. THAT IS NOT OUR GOAL. >> GREENVILLE COUNTY SHERIFF, HOBART LEWIS READS THAT WHILE IT IS OUR DUTY TO ABIDE BY THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER AS WELL AS THE STATE STATUTE, LET ME BE CLEAR WHEN I SAY THAT WE ARE NOT PROACTIVELY SEARCHING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND/OR GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GATHERING TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING A CRIMINAL CHARGE. TONIGHT AT 6:00, I WILL HAVE MORE ON THIS. AS WE KNOW, THINGS ARE CHANGING BY THE DAY, BY THE HOUR. YOU WILL WANT TO STAY INFORMED. FOR NOW, LIVE IN GREENVILLE, RENEE WUNDERLICH, WYFF NEWS 4. >> A GREENVILLE COUNTY LAB IS NOW THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE HELPING TO SPEED UP TESTING FOR COVID 19. OUR TAGGART HAS MORE ON HOW IT WORKS. >> THE FIRST PRIVATE COMMERCIAL LAB IN SOUTH CAROLINA NOW VALIDATED BY THE FDA TO TEST FOR COVID-19. IT IS SET TO SPEED UP RESULTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE. THE STAFF AT PREMIER MEDICAL LABORATORY CELEBRATING A MEMORABLE A COMPLIMENT. APPROVAL FROM THE FDA TO RUN TESTING FOR COVID-19. >> IT WAS A NEW I GUESS OPPORTUNITY AND CHALLENGE FOR US AND EVERYBODY MET IT HEAD ON. >> YOU CAN’T TAKE A TEST HERE BUT YOUR TEST COULD VERY WELL BE ANALYZED BEHIND THESE DOORS. >> PATIENTS WILL GO TO THE DOCTORS OR TO ONE OF THE CLINICS HERE IN THE STATE OR NATIONALLY AND HAVE THE TEST ORDERED AND COLLECTED THEN IT’D BE SENT TO PREMIER WHERE WE’LL PROCESS THAT TEST AND SEND THE RESULT BACK TO THE PHYSICIAN. >> PROCESSING RESULTS ANYWHERE FROM 1-2 DAYS. LEADERS EXPECTED TO ANALYZE AT LEAST 28,000 TESTS EACH WEEK. A MOVE THAT CAN HELP ALLEVIATE PRESSURE FROM D HECHT LABS. JAMIE SHORT WORKING OVERTIME TO MAKE SURE THAT TESTING WAS APPROVED. >> IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHO HAS THIS AND TO HOPEFULLY SHORTEN THE QUARANTINE TIMES AND THE SPREAD. >> THE LAB ALSO HIRING SOME PEOPLE LAID OFF FROM LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES USING THEM TO ORGANIZE KITS AND COMPILE DATA. >> WE ARE TRYING TO HIRE LOCAL PEOPLE THAT CAN HELP FILL IN THE GAPS AND TRY TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. >> TESTING AS A WHOLE IS RAMPING UP. NOW THAT THIS LAB FACILITY HAS BEEN VALIDATED, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TEST FOR COVID 19. IN GREENVILLE, TAGGART HOUCK, WYFF NEWS 4. NIGEL: THREE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY SENIORS SAY THEY ARE STUCK IN PERU. THIS IS AFTER THE COUNTRY LOCKED DOWN ITS BORDERS IN RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK. OUR ALLEN DEVLIN HAS THE LATEST THIS EVENING. >> I JUST WANT TO GET HOME. >> WHAT STARTED OUT AS THE VACATION OF A LIFETIME FOR THESE THREE CLEMSON SENIORS QUICKLY TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE. >> WHILE WE WERE AT DINNER THE WAITRESS CAME OUT BEFORE OUR FOOD WAS READY AND SAID WE COULD FINISH OUR FOOD AND EVERYTHING BUT AFTER THAT, WE HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS CLOSING DOWN BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT HAD ANNOUNCED THAT THE WHOLE COUNTRY WOULD BE GOING ON LOCKDOWN. >> THE THREAT OF CORONAVIRUS CUT THEIR FUN SHORT. PERU LOCKED DOWN. DOWN THE STREETS OF CUSCO VACANT. COLTON AND HIS TWO ROOMATES TRAPPED FOR 8 DAYS INSIDE OF THIS AIRBNB. >> WE JUST TRIED TO CONTACT AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN. SENATORS, THE EMBASSY, EVERYTHING AND SINCE THEN, IT HAS BEEN EIGHT DAYS OF LOCKDOWN. >> BACK IN THE UPSTATE, COLTON’S FAMILY WORKING TIRELESSLY TO BRING HIM HOME. >> NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS DID I THINK OUR KIDS WOULD BE OUR US CITIZENS WOULD BE TRAPPED IN PLACE. >> COLTON’S FAMILY REACHED OUT TO REPRESENATIVE JEFF DUNCAN FOR ASSISTANCE. DUNCAN’S OFFICE RELEASING A STATEMENT TO WYFF NEWS 4 SAYING IN PART, WE ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK IN A CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO BRING THESE CONSTITUENTS HOME TO THE UNITED STATES. WE ARE PURSUING EVERY AVENUE TO ASSIST THEM DURING THIS TIME. >> WE REALLY NEED TO THINK UP THE PACE WITH GETTING US OUT OF HERE. >> A MESSAGE FROM KENNETH TO HIS SON. >> SEE YOU SOON. >> WAITING TO BE REUNITED BUT FOR NOW, THOUSANDS OF MILES APART. >> IN PICKENS COUNTY, ALLEN DEVLIN, WYFF NEWS 4. >> WE HOPE HE IS ABLE TO GET HOME SOON. ALL SOUTH CAROLINA STATE PARTS WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW AND THURSDAY. PARK OFFICIALS WILL BE EVALUATING NEW POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. ALL 47 STATE PARKS WILL REOPEN ON FRIDAY. THEY WILL BEGIN HANDING A SOCIAL DISTANCING FLYERS. IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THIS, TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE. THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE SAYS THEY WANT TO KEEP VISITORS AND STAFF HEALTHY AND SAFE. PEOPLE WITH RESERVATIONS WILL GET A MESSAGE ABOUT THE CHANGES AND A FULL REFUND. THE CITY OF GREER IS CLOSING ITS PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS. OFFICIALS ARE ALSO CLOSING PUBLIC ACCESS TO CITY BUILDING WE ARE CONTINUING TO FOLLOW BREAKING NEWS OUT OF WASHINGTON. THE WHITE HOUSE CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCE IS EXPECTED TO GIVE US AN UPDATE. COMING UP AT 5:30, WHEN IT BEGINS, WE WILL BRING TO YOU LIVE, RIGHT HERE ON WYFF NEWS 4. STILL AHEAD, JEFF IS GETTING ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS, INCLUDING CONCERNS ABOUT HOW MEDICATIONS MIGHT REACT TO THE VIRUS. WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES FOR YOU UNDONE BE A WIFE FOR FOUR.COM AS WELL AS OUR FREE MOBILE APP. 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