Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Prisma Health held one of four statewide COVID-19 community testing events at the Sumter County Civic Center on July 7. Cassandra Waddell, supervisor of administrative support for Prisma said nearly 300 tests were conducted. The community testing, primarily done in partnership with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and state agencies, are aimed at reaching populations who may not otherwise have access to traditional testing or online virtual visits.

How has COVID-19 impacted you? Share your story with The Sumter Item.

Carolina Grove is one of several restaurants in Sumter with the Palmetto Priority certification from the state. Palmetto Priority is a formal commitment made by South Carolina restaurateurs to provide a clean and safe environment for their staff and customers to demonstrate the extensive precautions that they are taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

How to navigate restaurants during COVID-19: A guide to Palmetto Priority in Sumter, Clarendon, Lee counties

Our newsroom is providing continuous coverage of the local effects of COVID-19 – verifying facts, crossing over conversations, offering direct information resources and giving voice to leaders and experts that can help. Vital information is free to the public as our newsroom continues to work from home or on the front lines to bring you what you need and want to know. To help us continue this mission, please subscribe and help us sustain this ongoing effort.

The latest

Ricky Simmons, youth pastor and director of the House of Hope at Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, goes through boxes of food items that will be distributed to congregants and community members in need.

Sumter mirrors SC, nation in COVID-19's disproportionate impact on African-Americans

More than half of students in Sumter School District have remained in all-virtual education this semester.

Sumter School District may add hybrid days for spring

Sumter United Ministries volunteers assemble cans of cranberry sauce for their Thanksgiving food drive on Thursday. This year, instead of families choosing the foods they'd like for the holiday indoors at the ministry as in past years, SUM will hold a drive-through event for families to pick up donations for their holiday meal.

Sumter United Ministries moves forward with Thanksgiving food drive amid virus with drive-through event

McLeod Health Clarendon and DHEC partner for a drive-through testing facility in May in Summerton. The hospital's chief medical officer, Dr. Catherine Rabon, urged people to follow safety guidelines during the holidays to prevent further spread of the virus.

McLeod Health Clarendon, state health officials warn against big gatherings

McLeod Health Clarendon and DHEC partnered for a drive-through testing facility in May in Summerton.

A look at COVID-19 in Sumter, Clarendon and Lee counties: Virus still a threat

Local resources

Where are masks required in Sumter, Clarendon, Lee counties? Sumter County Council members are asking residents to wear masks in public, but they are not requiring people to do so. A resolution "urging" residents to wear face coverings when in public in the county was passed during a public meeting …

Here's a list of resources, accounts for parents with at-home, virtual learning children during COVID-19 This page is dedicated to providing parents with resources, ideas and inspiration for keeping kids engaged, entertained and learning while school is out due to the coronavirus. Most of this is aimed …

How to make a cloth face covering at home with or without sewing Here is some information and tutorials from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to wear a cloth face covering, how to make one and why. The CDC is now recommending everyone …

A Q&A about filing for unemployment in South Carolina during COVID-19 With the number of people applying for unemployment rising daily, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce offers the following questions and answers: Q. If someone can’t …

Your guide to Sumter-area takeout and delivery during conoravirus restrictions

Free COVID-19 testing held Wednesdays at CCTC FROM STAFF REPORTS Beginning today, the public can receive free and painless COVID-19 testing at a drive-through site at Central Carolina Technical College, 506 N. Guignard Drive, in Sumter. The site is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 …

Free COVID-19 testing held in Sumter on Tuesday, Oct. 20 A free COVID-19 testing site will be set up in Sumter on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Rural and underserved communities are experiencing disparities in access to COVID-19 screening, testing, prevention and …

Free COVID-19 testing scheduled for Thursday in Manning FROM STAFF REPORTS A free COVID-19 testing site will be set up in Manning on Thursday. Rural and underserved communities are experiencing disparities in access to COVID-19 screening, testing, prevention and treatment in South Carolina and …

Free COVID-19 testing coming to Manning, Rembert, Summerton Free COVID-19 testing will be offered to the public at two mobile sites in Clarendon County and one in Sumter County in the next week. MUSC Health, in partnership with the state Legislature, has been setting up mobile screening and collection …

If searching for work, transportation industry has 'lifeboats' With the Federal Reserve Bank forecasting last week that it will take at least a few years for a full economic recovery, the state's top employment agency continues to showcase industries with current opportunities. On Wednesday, the state …

CVS in Sumter, Manning offering free COVID-19 self-swab testing This article is free to the public. It’s the right thing to do as a public service to our community. If you find this article helpful or informative and want to support our continued coverage, …

More Local Coronavirus Resources

More local coverage

Shower Shaw adjusts for pandemic; ‘Goodies’ to replace cookies The 28-year tradition of Shower Shaw with Cookies program will carry on but with a slight adjustment caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The program that provides Christmas cheer and shows the community's gratitude to Shaw Air Force Base's …

Sumter Police Department officers, Duke Energy explain common COVID-19 scams Duke Energy and the Sumter Police Department collaborated with utilities across North America to bring awareness to and educate the public on criminal scam tactics for the fifth-annual Utility Scam Awareness Day. The annual Utility Scam Awareness …

Your Voice: Teen misses mom, freshman year at Sumter High School because of COVID-19 We've been asking our Sumter Item community to share their stories surrounding COVID-19 and the pandemic's impact on you, your family and friends, work, etc. We want to tell the stories of the people in our community, putting names and people to …

‘It’s all about the love’: Emmanuel Soup Kitchen in Sumter continues on despite COVID-19 pandemic When asked what first comes to mind when she hears the word “volunteer,” Jean Williams said it’s love. In affirmation, volunteer Harriet Jackson then began reciting the New …

COVID-19 testing in Summerton on Wednesday A free COVID-19 testing site will be set up in Summerton on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The site will be at the Taw Caw Community Center, 1126 Granby Lane, Summerton. Rural and underserved communities are experiencing …

Sumter restaurants sink or learn to swim during pandemic The restaurant industry has taken a huge hit this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Eateries across the county and state have drastically changed their methods to stay in business, and …

Clarendon virus cases rising; officials stress prevention CLARENDON COUNTY - The number of COVID-19 cases in Clarendon County is beginning to creep higher since the number of cases in the county peaked in late July and early August. During the last two weeks, Clarendon County has seen 74 new cases of …

Dates change for Clarendon School District 2 Grab and Go Meals MANNING - The dates have changed for Clarendon School District 2's free Grab and Go Meals. The free meals are available for hybrid and virtual students at CSD2 and for all children ages 18 years of age and younger in the community. Why should …

Sumter's Golden Corral closes because of coronavirus Another restaurant has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sumter. Golden Corral shut down because of the pandemic's impact on business after the restaurant reopened in June.

Sumter's Marble Slab shutters because of coronavirus A dessert business has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sumter. Marble Slab Creamery shut down because of the virus' impact on business. Marble Slab announced it was closing its doors in November.

More Local Coronavirus Coverage

More news

3-day ticket blitz, 130 $100 citations for going maskless in Columbia COLUMBIA (AP) - A three-day ticket blitz in South Carolina's capital city brought 130 citations for going unmasked in public places despite the coronavirus pandemic - and the fire chief says more are coming. "I don't mind tipping my hand," …

Thanksgiving could make or break U.S. virus response In Pennsylvania, if you're having friends over to socialize, you're supposed to wear a mask - and so are your friends. That's the rule, but Barb Chestnut has no intention of following it. "No one is going to tell me what I can or not do in my own …

FDA allows emergency use of antibody drug President Trump received U.S. health officials Saturday agreed to allow emergency use of a second antibody drug to help the immune system fight COVID-19, an experimental medicine that President Donald Trump was given when he was sickened last month. The Food and Drug …

Millions stick to Thanksgiving travel plans More than 1 million Americans a day packed airports and planes during the weekend even as coronavirus deaths surged across the U.S. and public health experts begged people to stay home and avoid big Thanksgiving gatherings. And the crowds are …

Daily COVID-19 deaths in U.S. reach highest level since May The surging coronavirus is taking an increasingly dire toll across the U.S. just as a vaccine appears at hand, with the country now averaging more than 1,300 COVID-19 deaths per day - the highest since the calamitous spring in and around New York …

Health experts clash over use of certain drugs for COVID-19 Health officials around the world are clashing over the use of certain drugs for COVID-19, leading to different treatment options for patients depending on where they live. On Friday, a World Health Organization guidelines panel advised against …

Pfizer seeks emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine in U.S. Pfizer said Friday it is asking U.S. regulators to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine, starting the clock on a process that could bring limited first shots as early as next month and eventually an end to the pandemic - but not until after a …

AP answers: What does emergency use for a COVID-19 vaccine mean? By The Associated Press It's when regulators allow shots to be given to certain people while studies of safety and effectiveness are ongoing. Before any vaccine is permitted in the U.S., it must be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration, …

Toilet paper limits, empty shelves are back as virus surges NEW YORK (AP) - Looking for toilet paper? Good luck. A surge of new coronavirus cases in the U.S. is sending people back to stores to stockpile again, leaving shelves bare and forcing retailers to …

More Coronavirus Coverage

Sumter's Virtual COVID-19 Response.

Sumter's COVID-19 Response - Featured Guest: Dr. Clay Lowder, Colonial Healthcare

We went live with Dr. Lowder via Zoom earlier today and got all the latest on what he and his team at Colonial Healthcare are doing to curb the spread of this virus. Be sure to check back with us …

Sumter's COVID-19 Response - Featured Guest: Dr. Penelope Martin-Knox, Sumter School District Superintendent

We went live with the superintendent via Zoom earlier today and got all the latest on what she and her team at the Sumter School District are doing to keep things moving smoothly for the …

Sumter's COVID-19 Response - Featured Guest: Mayor Joe McElveen, City of Sumter

We talked to the mayor live on Zoom earlier today, with the public also viewing and submitting questions, about the city’s response to this pandemic. He gave some insightful and honest thoughts …

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Sumter's COVID-19 Response - Featured Guest: Dr. Clay Lowder, Colonial Healthcare

Sumter's COVID-19 Response - Featured Guest: Dr. Penelope Martin-Knox, Sumter School District Superintendent

Sumter's COVID-19 Response - Featured Guest: Mayor Joe McElveen, City of Sumter