Salons, barbers demand to open

Hair dressers are demanding the governor allow them to reopen their shops.

On Monday, cosmetologists and Rep. Stewart Jones, who represents Greenwood and Lauren counties, gathered outside the Governor’s office.

They delivered over 50,000 petitions signed by cosmetologists who want to be able to serve clients.

Amy Howie, owner of Papillon Salon in North Myrtle Beach, started collecting petitions on April 15th. She argues salons can service one client at a time and follow strict hygiene practices.

Howie collected approximately 500,000 signatures for her petition in 10 days.

Gov. Henry McMaster reopened public beach accesses and some businesses including department stores, flea markets, florists, and book and music stores on April 20.

Barber shops, stylists, salons and gyms were ordered to remain closed.

Irmo to permit opening if stores test employees

Irmo Mayor Barry Walker knows what the lockdown is doing to his town.

“We are going to let small businesses begin to reopen with a condition,” he said.

“They must have their employees tested for the virus to make sure they don’t infect their co-workers and customers,” he said.

Walker said he is working with Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin to arrange for mass testings at their stores.

A Greenville testing company has offered on-site tests for small businesses for $50 per employee.

Food pantry open

The Mission Lexington food pantry is open to Lexington County residents 10 am-1 pm, Monday through Friday.

Those in need may now receive food once a month until further notice.

Governor names local leaders to AccelerateSC

Lexington County business leaders and a former senator have joined the AccelerateSC task force.

Gov. Henry McMaster has formed the 30-day task force of 29 volunteers to create strategies for reopening the state’s economy.

Members include Lexington residents Lou Kennedy, CEO and owner of Nephron Pharmaceuticals and Ted Pitts, CEO of the SC Chamber of Commerce.

Also, Bobby Williams, CEO of Lizard’s Thicket Restaurants and chairman of the SC Restaurant and Lodging Association and former state Sen. Greg Ryberg who represented Lexington County in the Senate and serves on the National Association of Convenience Stores board.

Midlands Gives starts Tuesday

On May 5, Midlands Gives will spend 18 hours raising critically needed funds for local nonprofits.

The dollars raised will allow the region’s nonprofits to continue providing their much-needed services during and after the covid-19 crisis.

Early giving for the online giving challenge is underway now. Residents can help nonprofits through Midlands Gives at www.midlandsgives.org .

The minimum donation has been reduced to $10 in an effort to reduce the barriers to giving during the crisis.

DHEC reports rising 72% recovery rate

State health officials have good news.

Covid-19 recovery rates have risen another 3% – from 67% to 72%.

This means that 3,194 people in South Carolina have recovered.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control also reported:

• 161 new cases and 10 more deaths.

• The total confirmed is 4,917 cases and 150 deaths.

• The deaths occurred in 7 elderly – 2 of them in Lexington County.

• 8 new cases in Lexington County.

• Greenville had the most with 22 and Richland had 11.

Schools to remain closed

Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order to keep all state schools closed for the remainder of the academic year.

Districts will be allowed the “flexibilty” to continue e-learning to enable course-work completition for students and hold some sort of graduation for seniors.

Details are still developing on how each school district will handle this.

SC State Parks reopen May 1

South Carolina’s 47 state parks will reopen their gates starting May 1.

The parks have been closed since mid-March in order to fight the spread of corona virus.

The parks will open on a limited basis to begin with and slowly open up for facilities as the month wears on.

A limited number of cars will be allowed to enter the park. Once that number is reached the gates will close until someone leaves.

Parks will honor prior camping and cabin reservations starting May 1. New reservations can be made starting May 11.

Visitor Centers will also open May 11. Park retail stores will reopen May 15, and playground equipment will be blocked off until June 1.

The parks will not host tours of historic homes or special locations like the lighthouse at Hunting Island State Park until further notice. They will continue their popular Facebook Live interpretive programming.

If you visit a nearby state park, please remain 6 feet away from others at all times, and don’t congregate in large groups. Rangers will be looking out for guests who violate those rules.