Charleston, SC Coronavirus Fact Sheet
Updated: 9:00 a.m., Thursday, March 12, 2020
For the latest on City of Charleston Coronavirus Preparations please read, "City of Charleston Coronavirus Preparations as of March 12, 2020" available here: https://www.charleston-sc.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=803.
Current situation:
According to SC DHEC, two positive cases and eight presumptive cases of coronavirus have been reported in the state of South Carolina. One positive case is in Charleston County and the other is in Kershaw County. There are five presumptive cases in Camden, one in Spartanburg County, one in Kershaw County and one in Lancaster County.
For the latest information on monitoring and testing in South Carolina, visit: https://www.scdhec.gov/health/infectious-diseases/viruses/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/monitoring-testing-covid-19.
Precautionary steps:
City of Charleston leaders remain in close communication with federal, state and regional officials including representatives of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), the U.S. Coast Guard, Charleston County, Berkeley County and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) on the situation related to the coronavirus. In addition, city department heads and officials are working to review and update city plans, policies and procedures to reflect all current recommendations and best practices.
Cruise ships:
All ships must be cleared for entry into the Port of Charleston by the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. These agencies are monitoring cruise ships arriving in the Port of Charleston and are empowered to take appropriate steps with regard to public safety. They receive detailed passenger and crew member information, including full travel histories, prior to all ships’ arrivals in Charleston and are actively monitoring for potential coronavirus exposures.
Events:
At the current time, SC DHEC has not recommended the postponement or cancellation of public events anywhere in the state of South Carolina. The city will continue to rely on the recommendations of SC DHEC in making any decisions regarding upcoming city events.
Travel:
For current information on risk assessments for international travel, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.
Recommendations for individuals:
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Current CDC recommendations for prevention follow normal seasonal flu guidelines, including avoiding close contact with people who are sick, washing hands often with soap and water, covering all sneezes and coughs, staying home when sick and appropriately disposing of tissues and similar items.
For more information and useful links, please visit the city’s Coronavirus Information Page at https://www.charleston-sc.gov/2401/Coronavirus-Disease-2019-Information.