Dozens of Myrtle Beach employees in COVID-19 quarantine as cops hold party, hide info
Nearly 100 Myrtle Beach employees were quarantined at some point because of exposure to coronavirus, according to city officials.
That figure includes 58 Myrtle Beach police employees, an agency that has routinely hidden behind federal guidelines to deny saying how many officers have tested positive for COVID-19. It’s the same agency that is holding retirement parties in close quarters despite orders from the state that bar gatherings of three or more people.
As of Friday, there are 44 city employees currently quarantined for the COVID-19, according to a letter City Manager John Pedersen wrote and provided to The Sun News. There are 48 other employees that were quarantined, but have returned to work.
That is about 10 percent of the city’s workforce that was quarantined because of exposure to coronavirus.
Health officials recommended that anyone who tests positive for coronavirus to remain in isolation for two weeks. Those who come in close contact with someone who tests positive are also asked to remain in quarantine for 14 days.
Five employees have tested positive for COVID-19, according to Pedersen’s letter, three of them work in the police and two of them work in building maintenance. One of the employees is in “rough shape,” according to Pedersen, though he did not provide any other information about where the person worked.
All of the employees worked at the same facility near 13th Avenue South and the facility was professionally cleaned on Friday.
“The sobering discovery of the problem on 13th South is a reminder to all of us that that we need to treat this issue very seriously,” Pedersen wrote.
As of Friday, 35 police officers remain in quarantine because of potential exposure to coronavirus, according to the city. An additional 23 officers have returned to work since their quarantine ended.
Myrtle Beach Cpl. Thomas Vest has refused to provide information to The Sun News disclosing how many officers have tested positive, citing the federal law Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The Department of Health and Human Services says the federal act only covers health care providers such as doctors or nursing homes, it does not list police agencies.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department continues to respond to calls during the coronavirus outbreak, though it made some changes to practices to help protect officers. The agency is also tasked with enforcing South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster’s State of Emergency order that prohibits gatherings of three or more people who are not in the same household.
Even with the order in place, Myrtle Beach police hosted a retirement party for a lieutenant on April 9. Photos and videos posted on the department’s social media pages shows officers and city employees sharing close quarters, hugging and interacting. That party was held despite the order and while dozens of officers were in quarantine for exposure to COVID-19.
The Sun News filed a Freedom of Information Act request in late March for information related to the city’s efforts to prepare for the coronavirus crisis throughout Horry County. After three weeks, the city has yet to provide that information.
Starting today, all Myrtle Beach employees will have their temperature taken at the start and end of their workday, according to the city. If an employee has a temperature of more than 100 degrees, they must isolate in their vehicle immediately until given further instructions.
The city is waiting for an order of surgical masks to give employees that will replace some of the masks already in use.
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 10:50 AM.
