By Fred Palm, contributing editor | The ongoing raging COVID-19 community transmission that is expanding, like this year’s wildfires and tropical storms, will continue to impact children beyond this season. It is not over yet for them. Nor will it end for them. Children’s lives, like the lives of adults, are being damaged in many ways. But children have much less experience to return to. Adults have memory and lived perspectives.
Staff reports | More than 200,000 South Carolinians have been confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. The news came over the weekend as Palmetto State residents enjoyed Thanksgiving with family and friends in what many believe may signal the trigger of a surge on top of a surge.
IN THIS EDITION
PHOTO FOCUS: A study in black and white
COMMENTARY, Brack: Here’s to two good friends who will be just a click away
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: SCIWAY
ANOTHER VIEW, Palm: Suffer the children
NEWS BRIEFS: COVID-19 cases in state top 200,000
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: So, who’s the king?
CALENDAR: Gibbes to offer annual Antique Stroll on Dec. 2
Unfortunately, our state’s leader, Gov. Henry McMaster, has taken a course in denial about the threats from coronavirus from his crony, President Trump. The GOP-run legislature is no better at protecting life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Instead, it twiddles as more people die and get the virus.
“We really don’t have any leadership,” said state Sen. Brad Hutto, an Orangeburg Democrat who is the new Senate minority leader. “The governor is in line with Trump. There’s no leadership at DHEC [the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control] and the legislature has abandoned the field.
By Fred Palm, contributing editor | Correct and effective state action to battle COVID-19 is required. Now. Otherwise, more lives and livelihoods across South Carolina will suffer as a third wave descends upon the state.
Gov. Henry McMaster’s Oct. 23 public relations visit to Myrtle Beach revealed a guy who is in over his head with no way out. That means we have no way out.
“We’re vigilant. We’re trying to do our best,” he said during the visit. “We’ve heard from a lot of people in a lot of different kind of businesses; we’re taking all of that into consideration. These restrictions, it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes it imposes great hardship; we’re aware of that. All of these decisions are made not quickly.”
IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: Governor should create new state health testing office
COMMENTARY, Brack: Sanford is on target about debt, deficit
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
NEWS BRIEFS: More coronavirus testing needs to be done, officials say
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Dock scene you may recognize
CALENDAR: Lowcountry Listens back for round 3 of virtual music
NEW BOOK: Ever wonder where the Atlantic Ocean started?
By Kyra Morris, contributing editor | It is not over. This pandemic is still wreaking havoc with our lives.
* We still need to wear masks when we go into public places.
* We still need to wear masks anywhere when we are going to be closer than 6 feet from another person.
* We still need to wash our hands after doing any activity that has us touching things.
* We still must be careful about any socialization or eating out.
* We still must consider whether an activity will be indoors where ventilation is a key or outdoors where the air is free-flowing.
The difficult part of this is that the only certainty is uncertainty. How do we therefore determine what is important?
As we continue our journey of uncertainty, many of us experience “hedonic adaptation.” This is the capacity for human beings to adapt to their new circumstances, for better or for worse. Many studies show that we can quickly adapt to a new baseline — a new normal.
Charleston Currents #12.39 | Aug. 17, 2020
IN THIS EDITION:
TODAY’S FOCUS, Morris: Encountering hope during a pandemic
COMMENTARY, Brack: Remembering Floyd Breeland’s life of exemplary service
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston Gaillard Center
ANOTHER VIEW, West: To be or not be in person in the classroom
NEWS BRIEFS: SCETV is helping gaps in teaching with remote learning
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Spaghetti roadways
CALENDAR: Music, art, wine on calendar
NEW BOOK: More Charleston firsts
Staff reports | The Medical University of South Carolina is offering an online tool that helps make sense of data related to the coronavirus pandemic in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.
The MUSC COVID-19 Epidemiology Intelligence Project provides leading indicators in a color-coded dashboard that can help people make informed decisions. Indicators in the “green” are safe, while those that are yellow and red show more work needs to be done.
According to the project, “an Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation chart from the website illustrates the level of the expected impact in South Carolina [on several indicators], …
IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: MUSC dashboard provides insights into the community’s health
COMMENTARY, Brack: Sales tax holiday was lipstick on policy pig
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston RiverDogs
ANOTHER VIEW, Gibson: It’s time to debunk the myth of school choice
NEWS BRIEFS: Local lawmakers graded on conservation
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Where’s this fountain?
CALENDAR: Redux opens new Macintosh exhibition today
NEW BOOK: Charleston firsts on golf, Black official, fire insurance
We Can Do Better, South Carolina! (2019) by editor and publisher Andy Brack offers incisive commentaries on the American South, politics, the common good and interesting South Carolina leaders. Available exclusively for Kindle for $7.99. A paperback version will be ready soon. Learn more.
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