trident Archives - Charleston FYI

As a means of preventing the spread of Coronavirus throughout SC, five hospitals have come together to launch a new campaign. Titled “Masks Save Lives,” they’re pushing for Charlestonians to adhere to the statewide mask ordnance.

The five hospitals that make up the movement are Trident Health System, East Cooper Medical Center, Roper St. Francis Healthcare, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. Each plays a critical role in enforcing cloth face coverings be worn.

“You wear a mask to protect others, and they wear masks to protect you,” Jeff Taylor, CEO of Trident’s Summerville Medical Center, stated in a press release.

Wearing a mask has become a polarized issue in recent weeks. Some community members believe wearing a mask limits their freedoms, while others find it necessary for the greater good. Regardless of your stance on the issue, case numbers in SC continue to climb. The grand total now reaches 78,607, while the fatality rate reaches 1,385. Charleston County surges ahead for the most amount of positive tests reported.

The new campaign will be featured on 32 billboards as well as television advertisements. It acts as a reminder to stay masked in public. You can expect to start seeing the “Masks Save Lives” movement roll out in the next few weeks.

Multiple higher institutions around Charleston have come to decisions regarding upcoming summer and fall classes as the cornoavirus pandemic continues.

Here is a list with the latest information released by colleges in our area regarding class structures:

The Citadel

Summer classes will remain online with the exception of certain lab-based courses planned for in-person instruction during the second term (July 4 – August 7) as social distancing allows. On May 12, Citadel President Glenn Walters announced intentions for cadets to return in August for in-person classes. The college plans to welcome freshman on August 17 and have upper-class cadets return on August 25. Classes will tentatively start for graduate students on August 26, and on August 28 for cadets.

College of Charleston

Summer classes are currently only being offered online. Earlier this month the college established “internal working groups” to research various possibilities for the fall semester including, “Evaluating everything from instruction delivery and housing to employee work schedules and campus events/activities,” communication director Michael Robertson said. Proposed recommendations will be submitted in mid-June.

Trident Technical College

Classes will remain online throughout May, and a small number of hands-on courses will be offered starting June 15 with increased safety measures, according to a college spokesperson. There has not yet been an announcement about fall courses as of May 13.

“These measures include the mandatory use of masks, reconfiguration of work spaces in labs where needed, installation of barriers where appropriate, closure of common areas, making hand sanitizer widely available, marking spacing for queues, and extensive signage explaining safety protocols and our expectations for behavior while on campus,” said public infomration director David Hansen. “While we are preparing to reopen June 15, that date could change based on the availability of PPE and other factors.”