covid19
McMaster presents restaurant, limited mask mandates to slow virus spread
In a Wednesday afternoon press conference, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster presented an executive order that makes mandatory the measures which had previously been only recommended for restaurants, venues and other gathering places. They will go into effect Monday, Aug. 3. Then starting Aug. 5, McMaster said his executive order requires face masks be worn in…
Read MoreWalmart to require masks starting Monday, July 20
Laurens County, South Carolina – Several nationally known companies have decided that beginning Monday, July 20, to require customers to wear masks, regardless of whether or not their local governments require the measure. In a press statement released Wednesday afternoon, Walmart explained that the retail stores will require shoppers to wear face coverings at its more than 5,000…
Read MoreClinton passes non-enforceable mask resolution for COVID-19 safety
With a split vote, Clinton City Council Monday night voted not to adopt an ordinance which would have made the wearing of masks inside public buildings an enforceable law. The meeting was closed to the public but was available on Facebook Live. What did pass after much discussion was a non-enforceable resolution urging the Clinton…
Read MoreMask resolution passed by Laurens City Tuesday night
Laurens, South Carolina – Laurens City Council held a special called meeting Tuesday night June 30, and, after lengthy discussions, unanimously passed a resolution encouraging Laurens residents to seriously take on the habits as outlined by health professionals in wearing a mask, social distancing and washing hands often to try and prevent the spread of…
Read MoreCounty COVID-19 cases passes 100, testing sites announced
As voters in Laurens County went to the polls for several local Primary Elections, cases of COVID-19 across the state continued to climb, surpassing 15,000 on Tuesday. DHEC has increased testing sites, including one in Laurens Thursday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at E.B. Morse Elementary in Laurens. (See below for current…
Read MoreAttractions may reopen, sports’ return imminent
A Tuesday meeting of AccelerateSC, the business advisory committee focused on reopening South Carolina’s economy during COVID-19, led to Gov. Henry McMaster to announce Wednesday that attraction facilities can be reopened prior to the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Attractions such as museums, historic sites and zoos among others will be allowed to reopen beginning Friday.…
Read MoreAbsentee voting opens; new temporary provisions for SC voters
Absentee voting in Laurens County began Monday ahead of the Tuesday, June 9 primaries for elected local, state and national level seats. Now a vote by state legislators Tuesday evening May 12, provides any voter in South Carolina the option to vote absentee for the June primaries and runoffs. “We were already encouraging absentee voting,” said…
Read MoreFour COVID-19 cases in county, non-essential biz closed
Four cases of COVID-19 in Laurens County since Saturdays were confirmed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) over the weekend and on Wednesday. The cases were confirmed as DHEC continued to announce laboratory results. The first confirmed case in the county was reported Saturday. One additional case was added Sunday, a third…
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