Beaufort County Council Chairman Joseph Passiment and County Administrator Ashley Jacobs are encouraging the public to continue to heed safety guidelines enacted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, and the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) to minimize the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

 

“We are well aware of the fluidity of this emergency.  We are in constant contact with the appropriate agencies to ensure that Beaufort County is doing everything we can to keep the public safe,” said Chairman Passiment. “It is imperative that our residents and visitors follow the guidelines established by the CDC and SCDHEC.  We encourage everyone to monitor the County’s media platforms for updates. We will continue to send information as it becomes available so that our public is informed. We are in constant contact and coordination with our municipal partners.  Beaufort County is committed to protecting the health and safety of our entire community.  We also want to help ensure that our local businesses can operate during this event.  County Council will continue to govern, but our future meetings will be closed to the public and live streamed online and aired on television so that the public can participate.”

 

Beaufort County Administrator Ashley Jacobs stated, “Our staff is focused on providing services to our citizens and our businesses with little disruption, but in a way that protects their health, and the health of our employees. We are doing our best to handle all transactions telephonically and electronically.  We know there will be some inconvenience, but we appreciate the public’s patience and understanding.  We continue to evaluate ways to offer services online or through other means that do not require face to face contact.”

 

Chairman Passiment added that he hopes citizens will support the County’s local businesses as best they can considering the Governor’s recent executive order which includes limitations on restaurant services.  You can see this and other executive orders at the following link:

 

 

The order prohibits restaurants across the state from having dine-in service for the time being.  Thus, the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce and Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce have provided links listing eating establishments now offering curbside delivery and pickup options:

• beaufortsc.org/covid19

• hiltonheadisland.org/takeout-blitz

County Department/Office updates:

 

Recent updates include:

 

 

• Beaufort County Council will hold meetings as scheduled on Monday, March 23, but they will be closed to the public. The County’s Broadcast Services team will air the meeting live on The County Channel and Facebook.

• Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Management Division, has downgraded to OPCON 2 in coordination with public safety agencies and municipalities.

• Per Master in Equity, Judge Marvin Dukes, “Pursuant to the March 16, 2020 memo of Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty and the ongoing state of emergency, the Office of the Master-in-Equity for Beaufort County will cancel the foreclosure sale scheduled for April 6, 2020. Additionally, until further notice, no post-foreclosure writs of ejectment on legally occupied residential dwelling units will be issued.

Non-jury trials and other hearings will continue for now, but only attorneys, their clients, and necessary witnesses will be allowed to appear.

If counsel, a party, or a necessary witness is either sick, over age 60, immunocompromised, or otherwise in a high-risk group, please call the office of the Master in Equity at 843-255-5713. Note: Callers will not need to reveal specific private health issues.  The office will look at continuing that matter or arranging a telephone hearing depending on the age and urgency of the matter.