Surfside Beach to furlough town employees due to coronavirus, according to mayor
Surfside Beach Mayor Bob Hellyer announced on Thursday the town will furlough 41 town employees starting Monday due to the town’s lack of revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
In his daily newsletter, Hellyer said the closing of businesses and restrictions on travel has affected the town’s revenue source, resulting in necessary cuts needing to be made to maintain recurring costs and spending.
“There are many things to do to complete the furloughs and we will work to assist affected personnel,” Hellyer said. “These are very difficult times and we must be pro-active to overcome the challenges associated with future impacts.”
Hellyer added that hard decisions need to be made to protect all residents, requesting the community be patient as the town works to aid in mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
As of Thursday afternoon, Horry County has 106 total confirmed coronavirus cases, including seven deaths. Statewide there are 2,792 cases along with 67 deaths.
The number of confirmed cases in Horry County is relatively low compared to others in the state based on population size — less than 30 cases per 100,000 residents — but DHEC estimates the actual total number of coronavirus cases could be more than six times as high, at 714 total cases, when accounting for untested individuals.
The global pandemic has continued to upend everyday life in the Myrtle Beach area, with Gov. Henry McMaster issuing executive orders to close public schools, public beach access points and nonessential businesses to prevent spread.
More than 10,000 people in Horry County filed initial unemployment claims, more than any other county in the state, during the past week.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 5:29 PM.
