City postponing all upcoming events

After consultation with the members of Walterboro City Council and city staff, Mayor Bill Young has issued the following statement: “Because of the COVID–19 outbreak, we will be postponing upcoming events in the City of Walterboro. These events that we look forward to and enjoy can now make us sick.:
Events being postponed include: The WHAM Festival, all Rice Festival Events, Charleston Jazz, Tour de Lowcountry, Walterboro Downtown Criterium, as well as April and May’s First Thursday Events.
New dates for these events will be announced soon.
“Slowing the spread of this virus will hasten the time when we will be able to return to our normal lives and restore economic activity,” Young said. “These actions will help protect us all, especially the elderly and the most vulnerable among us. We should understand that if we have large numbers of people get ill at the same time, everyone may not be able to get the medical care that they need. Postponing these events will save lives.”

Dr. Deborah Birx with the Coronavirus Task Force stated that everyone with any kind of respiratory illness should assume that it is contagious and avoid contact with others. Also, a negative Covid-19 test today does not mean that you will continue to be virus free in the future.
Additionally, this morning the Center for Disease Control recommended that all other events of 50 people or more be canceled for the next two months.
“To assist our small businesses, I’m asking city staff to gather information on federal assistance, and make that information available to those businesses needing to seek help during this national emergency,” Young said.
You are encouraged to continue to wash your hands, cough into your elbow, practice social distancing, avoid unnecessary public outings, and stay home if you are sick.
“Together we will get through this pandemic,” said Young.