The COVID-19 situation seems to change so rapidly that updates post right as the situation shifts again. But there have been some developments today on the Isle of Palms that will affect your stay in one of our Isle of Palms vacation rentals - in a good way. Many people are out of school and work. The weather at the Isle of Palms has been absolutely gorgeous - temps in the mid-70’s, Carolina blue skies. As a result, the beaches have been crowded, mostly with day trippers from Mount Pleasant and elsewhere in the Charleston area. Folks with cabin fever descended en masse on the beaches. The last few days have seen crowds on the IOP that rival peak summer months. Although area beaches are spacious, people were not practicing safe social distancing, especially around the Isle of Palms County Park and Front Beach. Parking lots were full. There were long lines for ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s. Young people visiting for the day were congregating in large groups. Well, this morning the Isle of Palms City Council held a special emergency meeting to address the issue in regards to keeping us all safe from COVID-19.
The Latest on IOP Beach Access
They came up with a solution. For the next two weeks, starting tomorrow - Saturday, March 21st - IOP Police will set up checkpoints where people enter the Isle of Palms from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. each day. Only those with a specific purpose for being on the island are allowed onto the island during those hours. They include residents and their guests, property owners, day workers, medical providers, caregivers or childcare workers, delivery drivers, and short term renters and hotel guests. They will ask for supporting documents like driver’s license, resident stickers, decals and the like. If you are coming to one of our beach homes, simply show a copy of your rental agreement or booking confirmation. They will accept both paper and electronic versions. Thus, the beaches are OPEN for residents and those staying in our vacation homes. You can expect our beach and island to be much less crowded this way. Of course, we are all asked to maintain social distancing when enjoying the beach. South Carolina Governor McMaster has directed law enforcement to break up any crowds that might gather on beaches in the state. Isle of Palms Mayor Jimmy Carroll had this to say: “What this portrays to our residents and our businesses is that we’re still working and rentals are still coming. We just can’t have the beaches overloaded like they’ve been.” Read more about it at the Post & Courier. Also, Counton2 covers the story here.
Keeping Charleston Fed During COVID-19
A special website has sprung up called Dining at a Distance. Restaurants in the state are not allowed to have sit-down dining at the moment. But many local eating establishments are now offering take-out, curbside pickup and delivery options. I mean, it’s a giant list that keeps on growing. It’s also a great way to help these local businesses in what’s a tough time for them. Their tagline is, “Support Charleston restaurants, while responsibly practicing social distancing.” This website is a very useful clearinghouse of what’s available all over the Charleston area, with links to each one. Delivery options include DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats, Chownow, Postmates, and direct from the restaurant. It’s a great way to feed everyone in your luxury house on Isle of Palms. Hope to see you soon on the Isle of Palms. It’s a beautiful place to escape the COVID-19 chaos. If you have any questions, please contact us at Exclusive Properties. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger