99 cents for gas? It’s one Columbia station’s way to ‘look out for the people’
One of the more welcome results of people staying home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus: lower prices at the pumps.
According to AAA, the average gas price in South Carolina on Monday was $1.70 per gallon, down almost 80 cents from this time a year ago. The state’s current average is 8 cents lower than a week ago and 23 cents cheaper than the national figure.
One Columbia gas station owner went a step further Monday, dropping his prices to 99 cents for an unleaded gallon of gas. It was his way of giving back, he said.
“We are not making any money on it. Let the people save,” Amoco by BP owner Sam Singhal said. “We have to look out for the people. It’s a real hard time.”
The station, at the corner of Bull and Gervais streets, had a line of motorists for a block down Bull Street shortly after 2:30 p.m. Monday.
Graham Gault, who had to take a photo as he was gassing up his Ford Ranger said, “I haven’t seen 99 cents since I was a teenager.”
Singhal said it’s the lowest price he’s seen in the area. The price would stay 99 cents unless the supply was gone.
BP and Amoco stations also are offering a 50 cent per gallon discount to medical workers and first responders.
Higher gas prices are being reported along the coast ($1.99 average in Beaufort County), with the Cherokee County in the Upstate the lowest at $1.48 a gallon. Gasoline demand is at its lowest nationally since 1993, according to AAA.
The Midlands counties of Richland and Lexington reported average prices of $1.56 and $1.59, respectively.
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.
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 3:06 PM.