Free coffee for Midlands healthcare workers, first responders during coronavirus outbreak
As positive coronavirus cases continue to rise in South Carolina, one business is trying to help the people who have to continue work in spite of social distancing mandates.
Circle K is offering free coffee to healthcare workers and first responders during the outbreak of COVID-19.
The gas station/convenience store chain said in a news release it wants to help those who are “in the front line, and are going above and beyond to care for others.”
The free coffee will be available at the franchise’s locations in Columbia and across the Midlands, company spokeswoman Caroline Resnick said. There are 40 Circle K locations within 10 miles of Columbia.
To receive the free coffee, all healthcare workers and first responders need to do is show a valid ID, according to Circle K.
They will have their choice of hot or chilled beverage, “any time of day, any time they need,” Circle K’s head of U.S. marketing Alicia Mowder said in a news release.
“We’re taking this small measure to strive to support those who we rely on so heavily in difficult times like these, especially those who serve others,” Mowder said in the release. “In this challenging period, it is vital we all come together and support one another.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
As of Wednesday morning, 48 people in South Carolina had tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
More than half of the positive coronavirus cases have been reported in the Midlands, primarily in Kershaw County where 22 patients have been identified.
DHEC is encouraging people to practice “social distancing” to help stop the spread of the virus. Social distancing is staying away from unnecessary interactions with sick people and from large groups of people; it also calls for remaining at home unless it is absolutely necessary to go out.
To reduce the spread of coronavirus, events of more than 50 people in a state, county, city, or other publicly-owned facility are prohibited, except for essential government functions, according to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.
Symptoms of coronavirus vary from mild to severe and include coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath, according to the CDC.
The best way to prevent infection is to frequently wash hands for 20 seconds; avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth; avoid contact with sick people and clean frequently touched objects with a cleaning spray or wipe, according to the CDC. DHEC also recommends covering your cough, staying home when sick, and disposing tissues and other items that you’ve sneezed or coughed into.
Free online screenings also can be accessed by all South Carolina residents, by going to scdhec.gov/COVID19.
Prisma Health is also offering free access to medical professionals for those who think they may have coronavirus, The State reported. People experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can go to https://www.prismahealth.org/virtual-visit/ and schedule a free online visit, Prisma officials said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 214,010 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 8,727 people have died, while 83,207 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. In the United States, 7,323 people have been diagnosed with the novel virus. In the U.S. 115 deaths have been reported, including 55 in Washington state, according to Johns Hopkins.
