COVID-19. My account of what is happening: Cameron Pate-Addie, Lander University Student, Publix Employee
As of 3/17/20:
Lander (and almost every University around) has gone to online classes. Columbia, SC has a curfew now, and other places like New York (maybe just NYC? Idk). McMaster has closed all public schools. All restaurants are not allowed to have customers sit at their establishment's, only have curbside or drive though - Greenville and other county's. I believe there are Corona virus tests being done (not sure). Panic buying has been awful. People buying toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Many stores are closing early (Publix at 8pm now) and some have shopping hours set aside for elderly shoppers to get their much needed supplies.
As of 3/18/20:
The vaccine trial started Monday (the 16th of March) and is expected to last for six weeks. We went to the store today (5 stores actually, counting a gas station) and no one had bread. Publix did have their own made bread that is rasin or something, so we bought tortillas to use instead of bread. Maybe kellies mom might make home made bread, maybe. We found eggs at walmart but other places didn't have any. I'm not panicking because I know there is bread and egg but people just buy them all up so fast. Limestone College has closed for the rest of the semester. The US/Canada border shut down to only essential traffic. 60 cases in SC so far. 1 dead.
As of 3/19/20:
Any stores (like Publix) are setting aside early morning hours for the elderly to shop. Local businesses are being hit hard due to social distancing and self quarantine and because governor McMaster is said that restaurants cannot have customers sit in the restaurant they can only do curbside and pick up and for example Rosie's and Simpsonville South Carolina was on the radio asking for people to come in cuz it's hard to pay their employees and local theaters are being hit hard because people are going to their shows and they've already paid for some shows that people aren't going to so they're asking for donations. Governor McMaster has ordered that all schools public schools at least I believe in South Carolina finish out the semester online so Lander is 100% totally online school right now the movie pack up the dorm because soon I'm sure they'll tell us to clean out our dorms.
As of this update, S.C. DHEC reports there are 81 cases in South Carolina, in 17 countie
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As of 3/20/20:
Coronavirus cases in SC surpass 100; 45 new cases, 14 in Richland, announced Friday. That brings it to 124 cases as of today. "Italy calls in military to enforce coronavirus lockdown as 627 people die in 24 hours" (Fox Carolina News article). This has been awhile now, but school buses have been delivering bag lunches to students at certain locations (not sure all counties or...). https://www.vox.com/2020/3/18/21172874/coronavirus-pandemic-having-a-baby-pregnancy-hospitals (This is a link to an article that is about a pregnant woman in Italy's account of giving birth amid all this going on and the lockdown.) Today I read of the first baby dying from the COVID-19. The youngest I've heard this far to die. 3 deaths in sc now. BMW officials said the company's Upstate facility will close from April 3 until April 19 for a production break. "A state of emergency exists in South Carolina to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. To save lives, I have directed SLED and local law enforcement to disperse crowds gathered on our state’s beaches. Coastal residents can responsibly maintain social distance while enjoying our state’s beaches." (Governor McMaster)
We are not sure at this time if you can get the Virus again after already getting it. It's too early to tell.
As of 3/21/20:
Story from Aiken I read about: "
From a customer at Sam’s Club:
I'm at Sam's Club
Older couple in 70's checking out
Cashier asks if they found everything they needed
Lady said no - needed bread
Young man in 20's heard this and says " Ma'am, I have a loaf you can have, and if you see anything in my cart, you're welcome to it"
#Covid_19" - Because of panic buying, elders cannot find basic necessities like bread.
#BREAKING Two cases of #COVID19 have been confirmed in Greenwood County. Throughout this time, since it started in the US, there have been the creation of White House Coronavirus Task Force, and state and county task forces delivering daily press briefings. There are 173 cases now in SC
As of 3/23/20:
Almost 300 cases in SC and 5 related Deaths as well in the State. McMaster has given police the power to break up groups of 3 or more in public. The governor said this does not apply to homes, work places, or law-abiding businesses. There is politics involved here. I see democrats blame Trump. Republic's blame Democrats. Blame China. There is so much blame going on. People say this will make Trump look bad. People say if Trump handles this well it will make him look good. I read this from family and social media. Many people since the start of this said this isn't that bad. That it's not as bad a the flu. And those people blame the media for causing panic. (My own opinion is not listed here. But this is not like the flu. It's worse.
Also, yesterday, the Senate (democrat majority) all 60 voted against the stemlous package that would help Americans and give them money, among other needs. I do not know why they didn't vote for it. It seems like a very liberal act (social aid type thing) however, perhaps it's exactly politics being involved here. Perhaps not wanting Trump to look good? Again, not my opinion is said here.
I watched Trumps COVID-19 task force meeting on the news yesterday. Trump is calling this the "Chinese virus." Idk if this is racist, but I do know that there has been a rise in anti-Asian hate/crimes.
There is a need for blood donations. People are not going out to donate blood right now.
As of 3/24/20:
Public schools in South Carolina will remain closed throughout April, April 30th. We will see what happens.
In an effort to provide much-needed assistance for Lander University students facing immediate financial hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lander Foundation has launched a Student Crisis Fund.
For more information, visit https://www.lander.edu/node/1907
First baby died from the virus in LA
U.S. Navy Hospital ships (USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort) are deployed to one on the East coast and one on the West coast. Home Depot confirms employee at Simpsonville location tested positive for COVID-19
This picture is of El Tejano Mexican Restaurant in Simpsonville, SC. We got food from there today to support our local businesses. Pick-up only.
This video is of a Prisma Health Radio Commercial talking about the COVID-19 pandemic: (attached above)
Publix to install plexiglass barriers at registers amid coronavirus pandemic. Should be installed company wide within two weeks!
As of 3/25/20:
I worked from 2 to 8pm. Greenwood Publix. Majority of my shift I cleaned carts with sanitizer. That is a heck of a job. But I also like it because it different and I get to kinda be alone haha.
Commercial that is related to the COVID-19 situation.
JUST IN: The Senate has approved a historic $2 trillion stimulus package meant to provide a jolt to an economy reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. The measure now moves to the House
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As of 3/27/20:
North Carolina Stay at Home order in effect starting Monday at 5pm.
President Donald Trump, coronavirus task force hold briefing after passing $2 trillion relief bill. It was signed by the president and will go into effect.
As of 3/31/20/
SC Gov. McMaster orders ‘nonessential’ businesses to close to fight coronavirus. Erin's Businesses will be closed down. For 14days this is to go into effect.
During work got a alert text that said all nonessential businesses will be closed and to please stay home.
At my job, Publix, we are getting a pay increase withing the coming weeks for working during this time. Could be anything from .25 to $1.00!!! The dinning areas are also closed and also sitting area at Publix, not new info with that but just noting it down. Oh, and we have 3 employees to clean the store.
As of 4/1/20:
There are now 1,293 cumulative cases of #COVID19 in South Carolina, including six in Greenwood County.
As of 4/5/20:
There are 2,000 cases in SC
From Facebook. I really like this so I want to add it here:
"Just so I NEVER forget..... April 5, 2020
Gas price locally is $1.67
School cancelled - yes cancelled for remainder of school year
Self-distancing measures on the rise.
Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
Entire sports seasons cancelled.
Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.
Churches and temples are closed.
No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 10 or less.
Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
We are to distance from each other.
Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
Shelves are bare.
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
Fines are established for breaking the rules.
Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
Press conferences daily from the President. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
Government incentives to stay home.
Barely anyone on the roads.
People wearing masks and gloves outside.
Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.
People are spending their last moments away from the family and friends that they love.
This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.
Why, you ask, do I write this status?
One day it will show up in my memory feed, and it will be a yearly reminder that life is precious and not to take the things we dearly love for granted.
We have so much!
Be thankful. Be grateful.
Be kind to each other - love one another - support everyone.
We are all one!❤️
Copy& Paste."
Friday at work (4/3/20) was the first time during this pandemic that I wore gloves while working on the register. And I had to handle a situation with a "crazy" customer. (I'll remember this info for later. Can't forget it). I got a little worried at work, but I've had the weekend off and I'm at kellies and I'm a lot more calm. It's good to get away from everything going on. We should be getting the pelxi glass put up soon on our registers at my Publix store. They have them at BiLo im simpsonville me and kellie seen them today. Also, at least CS at Maudlin Publix are allowed to wear gloves and masks now. Before the other day we were not allowed. Glove and mask policy is not the same company wide. Different always every store
As of 4/6/20:
Went to work today and they had installed the Plexiglass Barriers this morning on our registers.
Rumor has it around the store and on the Publix Reddit page that the company will soon make it mandatory to have employees wear masks and gloves.
McMaster has ordered a "work or home" order. So people should only be at home, work or at an essential place like getting groceries.
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