Richland County coroner, sheriff rally to aid seniors during coronavirus pandemic
The Richland County Coroner’s Office and the Sheriff’s Department teamed up to provide care for seniors during the coronavirus pandemic.
Coroner Gary Watts and Sheriff Leon Lott held a news conference Wednesday where they announced they would be handing out Senior Care Relief Bags, deputy coroner Curtis Wilson told The State.
“The sheriff and coroner both know that times are pretty tough right now, especially for our seniors who we like to call our precious elderly,” Wilson said in a news release.
The bags are filled with essential items that have even greater importance as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in South Carolina.
These bags include hand sanitizer, soap, toilet paper, paper towels, water bottles, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and more, according to Wilson.
People 65-and-older are at higher risk for getting seriously ill from the coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Watts said he wanted to put together some comfort items that are hard to find these days to help senior citizens in the Columbia area.
Lott said “we are all going through some difficult times but together we will defeat this virus,” according to the release.
The sheriff’s department set up a unit exclusively to care for seniors, named Project H.O.P.E. — Helping Our Precious Elderly. Its mission is to make daily checks on seniors through phone calls and visits to find out their needs and make sure they are doing well, according to Wilson.
“The Richland County Coroner’s Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department know all too well how important it is to stay safe during this COVID-19 pandemic,” the news release said.
Both the coroner’s office and sheriff’s department encourage social distancing, hand washing, and wearing masks if going outside.
“Use hand sanitizer if you can’t get to soap and water, and stay home,” the news release said. “The coroner and the sheriff want you to know that we must protect each other and the only way to achieve that is by following the safety guidelines set before us. Stay safe and protect yourself and those around you!”
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is encouraging people to practice social distancing to help stop the spread of the virus.
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.
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.
Free online screenings also can be accessed by all South Carolina residents by visiting 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.
This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 11:21 AM.
