An Update from Interim Town Manager Josh Gruber 1/11/2021

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An Update from
Interim Town Manager Josh Gruber 1/11/2021
View the Video Update at https://youtu.be/fGS5Mu0WBps
Here’s an update of what’s happening around town.
COVID-19 is still in front of us. We continue to fight the spread of the virus and the vaccine is available. We have received a number of calls from residents asking when can they get the vaccine. The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control is handling vaccine distribution in our state and is working with healthcare providers across South Carolina to administer shots. This is being done in phases. Individuals who fall into Phase 1a category are currently being vaccinated. Phase 1a includes:
  • Healthcare workers. The initial focus is on frontline healthcare workers at high risk of exposure and mission-critical to the overarching goal of preventing death.
  • Residents and staff of long-term care facilities.
  • Admitted hospital patients, who are aged 65 years and older, as long as they do not currently have COVID-19 and a provider feels it is indicated for them.
  • All people aged 70 years and older, as of today.
DHEC continues to be your best source of vaccine information. On our COVID-19 Hub page on our website, you will find links to information DHEC has put together about vaccines and COVID-19 cases. We will share information with you as we receive it, but we encourage you to head to DHEC’s website at scdhec.gov to get the latest updates and to find out how to schedule an appointment.
South Carolinians Aged 70 and Older Can Schedule COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments Beginning Wednesday, January 13.
Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced that beginning Wednesday, Jan. 13, any South Carolina resident aged 70 or older, regardless of health status or preexisting conditions, can begin scheduling their appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Based on COVID-19 vaccine data – doses received, administered, and appointments scheduled – South Carolina officials are confident the majority of people in Phase 1a who want to be vaccinated have either received their shots or have scheduled appointments to do so. Additional steps to expedite access to additional South Carolinians will be made based on the use of the vaccine, the number of appointments made, and information on vaccine supply.
What to Know:
  • Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 13, any South Carolina resident who’s at least 70 years old can schedule their appointment for receiving the vaccine.
  • The vaccine can only be administered by appointment – you can’t walk into a health care facility and ask for the vaccine.
  • Residents will be asked to provide a driver’s license or other forms of ID at their appointment that confirms their age and, therefore, their eligibility to receive the vaccine.
  • Individuals eligible to receive the vaccine can schedule an appointment using this online resource or by calling the DHEC Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 which currently includes several major hospitals, seven DHEC sites, a DHEC mobile clinic, and 12 Doctor’s Cares locations. An additional 50 locations will be added to this list and available to provide vaccine by the beginning of next week. For the latest COVID-19 vaccine information, visit scdhec.gov/vaxfacts.
COVID-19 Cases and Vaccine Information
Extensive reporting on county-level information, demographics, and more about coronavirus cases are available at scdhec.gov/COVID19. The website is updated between 1 pm-3 pm on weekdays and 11 am-1 pm on weekends. You can also find case data on our website at hiltonheadislandsc.gov/COVID19. Visit scdhec.gov/COVID19vaccine for the latest vaccine information.
COVID-19 Testing
Drive-thru testing for COVID-19 is available from 8 am to noon at Hilton Head Hospital (25 Hospital Center Blvd. on Hilton Head Island) and Coastal Carolina Hospital (1000 Medical Center Drive in Hardeeville). The test is free. No appointment or doctor’s order is needed.
Protecting Yourself and Others from COVID-19
Public health officials encourage South Carolinians to remain vigilant and continue taking the necessary steps to stop the spread of COVID-19:
  • Wear a mask.
  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Stay six feet apart.
Town Council Seeks Community Input on Town Code Section 2-5-70, Appearance by Citizens
Section 2-5-70 of the Municipal Code of the Town of Hilton Head Island provides for citizens to appear and address the members of Town Council at any regular meeting. Town Council is seeking the community’s input on this section of the Municipal Code as currently written. We invite you to complete a survey on this topic through our Open Town Hall Portal, accessible through the home page of our website at hiltonheadislandsc.gov. The survey will be open through January 27.
Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting on January 14
This will be another exciting year for parks and recreation for the Town of Hilton Head Island. In 2019, we conducted the parks and rec assessment and developed recommendations to aid our planning efforts. This informed the Town’s new comprehensive plan initiative in 2020, Our Plan, which includes a thorough discussion about the future for our parks and recreation. This year, we will move forward with bringing projects to life.
Our conversation on these projects continues at the Parks and Recreation Commission’s first meeting of the year at 3:30 pm on Thursday, January 14. At this meeting, staff will present findings from input received last fall through the online survey, virtual Town Hall meetings, and Open Park Day events. This will include a prioritized list of parks and recreation recommendations and proposed programming for Chaplin Community Park, Crossings Park, and the Mid Island Tract. Staff will share a draft Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for design services at the three major park projects with the Commission for information. The meeting agenda packet is available on the Town’s website at hiltonheadislandsc.gov. Additionally, the meeting will be held virtually and can be viewed on the Town’s Public Meetings Facebook Page. Following the meeting, the video record will be made available on the Town’s website.
Town of Hilton Head Island Closed on MLK Day
Town administrative offices will be closed on Monday, January 18, in recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Local MLK Committee Plans Festivities
The Hilton Head Island MLK Committee for Justice, in partnership with numerous community luminaries and activists, is pleased to present an online program in honor of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The program, scheduled from January 14-19, 2021, will consist of online sessions, celebrations, religious ceremonies, and musical performances, and a driving parade on MLK Day. Event links will be shared on the Hilton Head MLK Committee for Justice Facebook page. You can also visit the Hilton Head MLK Committee for Justice YouTube channel on January 14 – 19.
MLK Service Project: In-person Cleanup of Historic Gullah Cemeteries (Jenkins Island, Amelia White, and Spanish Wells Cemeteries) will take place between 9 am and noon on Saturday, January 16. Registration required through Eventbrite; please wear a mask and stay six feet apart; the event will be preceded by a drive-thru breakfast at All Saints Episcopal Church at 8 am.
MLK Driving Parade: The parade will proceed from the Hilton Head Island High School Parking Lot. Vehicle line up begins at 9:15 am and the parade starts at 10 am. Participants are asked to remain in their vehicles.
For more information about the parade, contact Galen Miller, President of Hilton Head MLK Committee for Justice at galenmiller68@gmail.com or 843- 290-2984.
Stay informed:
For more information visit