As we head into the fifth month of the Modified Operating Procedure for Extension, we have a firm understanding of how to proceed during the COVID-19 pandemic – both professionally and personally. Please utilize the SCDHEC resources to continue to educate yourself on the status of COVID-19 throughout the counties and statewide. Their statewide data is detailed, updated on a daily basis, and easy to understand.
The latest data from SCDHEC tells us, “As of Sunday, 15.2% of coronavirus tests were positive. That percentage has hovered around 20% the last 14 days, reaching a high of 22.6% on July 22.” Since the beginning of July, the data has shown that the daily number of cases in South Carolina have run the gamut between 947 and 2,300. We need to understand what drives the numbers to do our part for the sake of public health, but also help ourselves get back to in-person engagement with our stakeholders and a more certain operating procedure.
Read about SCDHEC’s messaging for the Stay SC Strong campaign developed to educate our citizens on stopping the spread to beat COVID-19, stayscstrong.com. Extension is known for its leadership roles in our state’s communities. We can be the liaisons to share and emphasize SCDHEC’s guidance. The wearing of face masks and coverings is critical in messaging and in practice because they are one of the primary defenses against COVID-19. We are beginning to see more widespread emphasis placed on that protocol in South Carolina because the research-based information shows that face masks and coverings work!
On July 29, Governor McMaster
- announced an Executive Order that is effective Monday, August 3 (today), and makes the guidelines recommended through AccelerateSC for all restaurants and establishments mandatory including face masks and coverings for all employees and patrons,
- ordered that face masks and coverings must be worn in all state government buildings according to guidelines and procedures developed by the state Department of Administration, effective August 5, and
- encouraged local governments to adopt face masks and coverings.
On July 31, the SC Department of Education Superintendent Molly Spearman instituted a face masks and coverings requirement for students and staff in South Carolina’s public school facilities.
It is essential that we in Extension model behavior change. Changing behavior is what we help others do, and we provide them with ‘the why’. Be a leader, and wear your face masks and coverings. Please ‘walk this talk,’ or we will continue to see drastic actions having to be taken to preserve public health, such as the cancellation of the 2020 SC State Fair in October. However, to give back to the community and keep the spirit of the Fair going, they will host a Drive-Through Fair for two nights.
Extension is being pulled in many directions now by many different groups. If we are to become a stronger unit, we need all Extension family members working in the same direction as a team. Working together also means understanding how to listen and remain mindful that others may have their own opinions. It is much easier to do this than to take a caustic viewpoint. We lose good people if the team environment becomes toxic, and this also happens across society. If someone were to ask members of a church or other type of social group, how many times over the past five years they may have changed where they spend their time, those answers might have nothing to do with the purpose of that group. We all do better in positive environments, especially through these times.
Here are my parting thoughts on teamwork: when you are in the heat of the battle, such as we feel with COVID-19, one depends on the person to their left, right, front, and rear, but then must also be willing to serve in those positions if needed. All great military unit leaders will tell you they would rather have a unit of mediocre folks that work and pull together as a unit than a few heroes in their unit. Appreciate the sum of the outputs and talents from all the program teams, as it is greater than the work of a single team.
Please do your part to keep yourself and those around you safe. I strongly urge you not to waver in continuing to follow the recommended safety protocols to inhibit the possibility of additional COVID-19 cases, as is emphasized by the stayscstrong.com campaign. As always, please take good care of yourselves and your families, and thank you for what you do for Clemson Extension.
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
General Douglas MacArthur
