WHAT YOUR GOVERNMENT IS DOING: SUMTER COUNTY COUNCIL Countywide face covering requirement voted down BY SHELBIE GOULDING man Chris Sumpter voting in oppo- washing a vehicle. [email protected] sition. The ordinance required a The emergency ordinance would two-thirds vote to be approved. have required face coverings to be Sumter County Council voted The vote came after Baker said worn by all persons entering any down an ordinance that would he had concerns with the wording commercial or public building have required face coverings to be in the ordinance and how it would open in Sumter County. It also worn in county restaurants and affect county businesses. would have required a covering to businesses. As an example, Baker mentioned be worn in all restaurants, retail There was a vote of 3-4 on Tues- car wash business owners and em- establishments, salons, grocery day, with Councilman Artie Baker, ployees working outdoors. He stores and pharmacies for both Councilman Jimmy Byrd, Council- didn’t think employees should be man Charles Edens and Council- required to wear a mask while SEE MASKS, PAGE A6 THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020 $1.00 SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 Graham: Vaccine key to economic recovery 1 SECTION, 12 PAGES | VOL. 125, NO. 224 NATION Laura could have ‘unsurvivable’ storm surge A6 PHOTOS BY MICAH GREEN / THE SUMTER ITEM U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., visits BD, which manufactures medical equipment, in Sumter on Wednesday. Graham said the economy will recover more when a safe vaccine is available, and he urged people to take precautions until that time. Woman in body bag U.S. senator makes brief Senator wants to for 2 hours discovered stop in Sumter at BD BY BRUCE MILLS compromise on alive at funeral home A3 [email protected] Given slowed momentum this another round of DEATHS, A9 summer to an economic recovery after spring shutdowns associat- Dr. Glenda Ruth Guilliams ed with the coronavirus, the virus assistance James Andrew Taylor state’s senior U.S. senator says a Janie Ophelia Witherspoon vaccine is critical to a full re- BY BRUCE MILLS Alexander Terrell Lawson bound in the economy. [email protected] Pauline Bennett U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, Don Story Riley R-S.C., spoke Wednesday to two U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said state media outlets, including The he supports an additional federal Clyde Dean Hodge Sumter Item Charlie Howard , on various national unemployment supplement but Lillie Mae Burgess issues after a brief stop at BD, not at the $600 level it was with the one of Sumter’s advanced manu- CARES Act at the end of March. Yvonne Delores Jones facturers and top employers in Graham praised BD employees for Graham, R-S.C., spoke Wednes- the county. their work as he visited the medical day on Congress’ failure to reach a After official U.S. Department supply manufacturer. deal on another coronavirus aid WEATHER, A12 of Labor reports in July show relief package before its August South Carolina and the U.S. have in vaccine development. recess that has been attributed to a THE 90S ARE BACK only gained back roughly half of He said the U.S. may be on the stalemate on jobless benefits and Hot and humid with some sun; clouds the jobs lost in the spring and verge of multiple vaccines by Oc- other aid provisions. The U.S. Sen- breaking tonight and remaining humid those gains have slowed dramati- tober or early November, which ate will reconvene on Sept. 8, the HIGH 93, LOW 74 cally, Graham said the pandemic he described as “warped speed.” Tuesday following Labor Day. is preventing the economy from Until then, Graham urged peo- The $600 supplement added to fully reopening and stressed the ple to take personal responsibility the state’s maximum benefit of need for a vaccine. for helping to control the virus by $326 gave displaced workers from INSIDE CONTACT US “What’s going to turn the econ- wearing face masks, calling that the pandemic $926 in weekly bene- Classifieds A11 Info: 774-1200 omy around is when we get a vac- “good common sense,” especially fits in the Palmetto State. Comics A4 Advertising: 774-1237 cine,” Graham said. “When we when indoors and when condi- Graham said that total is too Opinion A7 Classifieds: 774-1200 get a vaccine that people can take tions merit it. high, skews the wage scale and dis- A8 and it works, and you can safely “Until we get a vaccine, we all incentivizes many to go back to Sports Delivery: 774-1258 interact, then we will have res- need to wear a mask when it work, making it harder for compa- A10 Television News and Sports: taurants being open at 100%, and makes sense. We need to wash nies to restart their businesses. 774-1226 the tourism industry will come our hands and social distance,” “If you keep doing $600 on top of back.” he said. state benefits, it’s going to be hard Depicted in the national media In his remarks, Graham also to restart the economy because VISIT US ONLINE AT the .com as a major President Donald praised BD as being a leader in that is more money not to work Trump ally, Graham steered clear the U.S. medical supply chain. than it is to work for a lot of areas of being critical of Trump’s han- The Sumter facility is a high-vol- of the economy,” he said. dling of the coronavirus and ume automated assembly and Before the recess, many Repub- praised the president for stopping packaging operation for medical licans in Congress agreed with travel from China, the U.S. and Europe and also facilitating steps SEE VACCINE, PAGE A6 SEE RELIEF, PAGE A6 Officials change COVID-19 testing advice, bewildering experts BY MIKE STOBBE in close contact with infected ing is no longer recommended change bizarre. They noted president of Trust for Ameri- AP Medical Writer people to get tested. It was for symptom-less people who that testing contacts of infect- ca’s Health, a nonprofit that posted earlier this week on were in close-contact situa- ed people is a core element of works to improve U.S. pre- NEW YORK — U.S. health the website of the Centers for tions. public health efforts to keep paredness against disease. officials sparked criticism and Disease Control and Preven- There was a caveat, howev- outbreaks in check and that a “We are seeking clarifica- confusion after posting guide- tion. er. Testing may be recom- large percentage of infected tion from CDC about its re- lines on coronavirus testing The CDC previously had ad- mended for those with health people — the CDC has said as cent guidance around test- from the White House task vised local health depart- problems that make them many as 40% — exhibit no ing,” said a spokesman for force that run counter to what ments to test people who have more likely to suffer severe symptoms. Michigan’s health depart- scientists say is necessary to been within 6 feet of an infect- illness or if their doctor or “The recommendation not ment. control the pandemic. ed person for more than 15 local state officials advise to test asymptomatic people Some — including at least The new guidance says it’s minutes. But on Monday, a they get tested. who likely have been exposed two state governors — said it not necessary for people who CDC testing overview page Across the country, public is not in accord with the sci- don’t feel sick but have been was changed to say that test- health experts called the ence,” said John Auerbach, SEE TESTING, PAGE A6 A2 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020 THE SUMTER ITEM Call: (803) 774-1226 | E-mail: [email protected] Charleston massacre looms over hate crime debate BY JEFFREY COLLINS the victims while wearing a button with subcommittees to review all facets of But there were emotional moments. The Associated Press their photos above her heart. criminal justice, from how police oper- Several members of the public said the “These people will never be forgotten ate to sentencing laws to prison reform. lack of a hate crimes law in South Caro- COLUMBIA — South Carolina can as long as family members live. But my The Republican from Hartsville or- lina when so many other states have both honor nine Black worshippers hope is this bill will give them renewed dered the review after protests and out- one makes them feel like lesser Ameri- killed five years ago in a racist attack life, so heinous crimes don’t go unpun- rage about the May killing of George cans. and send a message that it loves and ished,” Gadsen said. Floyd by a police officer in Minnesota Rep. Weston Newton, who led the sub- protects all its neighbors by becoming South Carolina, Arkansas and Wyo- who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck committee, said he thinks Wednesday’s the 48th state to pass a law with more ming are the only three states that don’t for several minutes as Floyd pleaded for hearing shows South Carolina’s conser- severe penalties for hate crimes, sup- have hate crimes laws, which allow for air. vative House is ready to act. porters said Wednesday. A small group greater punishments when prosecutors Lucas wants the subcommittees to “It’s long past due. We intend to do ev- of House members heard about a dozen can prove a crime was motivated be- hold hearings and prepare bills that can erything we can,” the Republican from people speak in favor of having a hate cause of race, sexual orientation, reli- be filed when the new Legislative ses- Bluffton said.