Six feet apart better than six feet under, Kershaw sheriff says of social distancing
With a bottle of hand sanitizer on the shelf behind him, Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan made an impassioned plea for people to follow social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s better to stay six foot apart now, than to be six foot under later,” Boan said in a video shared on Facebook Tuesday night. “Coronavirus is very serious. ... I want to emphasize social distancing.”
As a top public official in one of the South Carolina counties hit hardest by cases of COVID-19, Boan has experience with the effects of the coronavirus.
Through Tuesday, 106 patients in Kershaw County had tested positive for COVID-19, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Three people from Kershaw County have died after testing positive for the coronavirus, most of any county in the state.
Only Richland (148), Charleston (142), and Greenville (106) counties have reported more cases of the coronavirus. And those counties populations are each nearly 10-times larger than Kershaw County’s 65,000-plus residents.
The title of the video is “Watch Your 6,” which is military and law enforcement lingo for watch your back, as 6 would be behind you on a clock. But there is also a newer, coronavirus-related meaning.
Boan is trying to get people to take of themselves, and others, by adhering to recommendations to stay at least 6-feet apart from others in social situations.
“Lets focus on one number. Six. Six is a very important number,” Boan said. “I’m not as concerned with three or more people in a 40-acre open park as I am with two people less than six foot together. I never thought the day would come that I’d be asking our citizens to stay away from each other, but the day is here. We have to deal with it.”
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.
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MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
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.
Boan encouraged people to keep in close social contact while maintaining the six-foot physical separation.
The sheriff said he has been pleased with what he and his deputies have seen on patrol — fewer people in public and limited crowds.
“Our president extended out our social distancing period. It’s going through April. We just need to suck it up and make it happen,” Boan said. “It’s very important to keep this social distancing. We’re still in uncharted territory.”
On Tuesday, 158 new cases of the coronavirus were reported in South Carolina, bringing the statewide total to 1,083 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 41 counties, according to DHEC.
Six of the news cases on Tuesday were in Kershaw County.
DHEC also announced that four more people died after testing positive for the coronavirus, raising that total to 22 in less than a month. State health officials described 21 of the people as elderly, one person was middle-aged, and all but two had underlying medical conditions.
There have been 4,616 negative tests at DHEC’s public health laboratory.
Symptoms of coronavirus can include a fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing, according to the CDC. Among the emergency warning signs of COVID-19 is trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, and blueish lips or face, the CDC said.
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 morning, 873,767 people worldwide have been diagnosed with coronavirus and 43,288 people have died, while 184,771 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States leads the world with 189,633 people who have been diagnosed with the novel virus. In the U.S. 4,081 deaths have been reported, including 1,096 in New York City, according to Johns Hopkins.
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MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 11:23 AM.
