FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE       DATE: March 19, 2020
 Media Contact: Wayne Evans, Public Information Officer
 Phone Numbers:    803-914-2100
 803-914-2158 (Public Information Officer)
 E-Mail:  wevans@hamptoncountysc.org
 HAMPTON COUNTY GOVERNMENT OFFICES REMAIN OPEN WITH ADVICE TO OUR CITIZENS
Based on the intelligence collected and recommendations from public health officials, including the CDC, Hampton County will be enhancing preventative measures to mitigate the spread of the COVID19 virus. Hampton County Government Offices REMAIN OPEN, unless otherwise directed by the Governor. Hampton County currently has no confirmed cases of COVID19. Hampton County is asking citizens if you are sick or have had a fever to please avoid coming into the offices. Hampton County is doing everything to continue to provide services to our citizens.  Please wash hands with soap and water. Please use hand sanitizer before entering and exiting the building. Hand sanitizers should be used after handling money, paperwork, etc. from the public.
The following information is to assist you in other ways to prevent the spread or the COVID19 virus. Office information is listed below. Hampton County is here to assist you to the best of our ability. Hampton County Government Offices are open.

Updates for Hampton County Offices as of March 19th, 2020.
County Administration OPEN
Administration will remain open, please call 803-914-2100 for assistance.
Administrators Administrative Assistant 803-914-2106
Finance can be reached at 803-914-2110.
Fiscal Clerk/Payroll at 803-914-2112
Accounts Payable at 803-914-2111
Grants Administration at 803-914-2108 

County Council OPEN
Clerk to Council will be available at 803-914-2103 for any information. 

County Courthouse OPEN
The Courthouse is open. Court has been cancelled until May 1, 2020.

Clerk of Court OPEN
Please call 803-914-2250 for information. 

Family Court OPEN
Please call 803-914-2250 for information regarding child support payments. Family Court has been cancelled in will be available for emergency hearings only. 

The Sheriff’s Office OPEN
The Sheriff’s Office will still be allowing public inquiries for the time being, but this may be subject to change.  Please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 803-914-2200 to limit the spread of COVID19. 

Detention Center CLOSED FOR VISITORS
The Detention Center is not allowing any visitors to inmates as mandated of the Correctional Institute. Please call 803-914-2223 for assistance. 

Emergency Services Building (EMS, FIRE, DISPATCH, EM, AND CORONER)
Hampton County EMS has implemented the new guidelines for Flu Symptoms Transport as required by DHEC:
The guidelines are as follows:
• Hampton County Dispatch will pre-screen all 911 calls
• Upon arrival EMS Crews will conduct an Assessment based upon the DHEC protocols for COVID-19. Based upon this assessment you MAY or MAY NOT be transported to a health-care facility.
Should the pre-screen show that you do not meet the requirements to be transported you will be given written guidelines for follow-up care.
The Emergency Services Building has limited persons to the front lobby.  Everyone is asked to use the sanitizers provided to you at the window.
Ambulance billing please call 803-914-2151 or email: sdeloach@hamptoncountysc.org  
Fire reports please call 803-914-2155 or email: screws@hamptoncountysc.org
911 Reports 803-914-2169 or cbozard@hamptoncountysc.org
Emergency Management 803-914-2150 or speeples@hamptoncountysc.org
Coroner’s Office 803-914-2157 or atopper@hamptoncountysc.org or paltman@hamptoncountysc.org

Law Enforcement and Fire-Rescue services will continue to operate normally with no reduction in services.  

The County Landfill OPEN
The County Landfill and Solid Waste Convenience Sites will remain open according to their regular schedules.  

Treasurer’s Office OPEN
The Treasurer’s Office is open. If you chose not to come to the office to make payments the following information is provided. Payment options are: Individuals can mail their check to 201 Jackson Street West, Hampton SC 29924 or you can make your payments online at www.hamptoncountysc.org.
Tax Assessor’s Office OPEN
All Applications and forms can be mailed by calling 803-914-2095
If you have a questions or other inquiries call 803-914-2090 If the number is busy please leave a voicemail and someone will return you phone call. 

Probate OPEN
For all estate, guardianship, conservatorship, mental health, and marriage license questions, please  contact the Probate Court by telephone 803-914-2172 or 803-914-2173 or email sodom@hamptoncountysc.org or amurdaugh@hamptoncountysc.org  You may mail any probate documents to P.O. Box 601 Hampton, SC 29924. There are forms on the sccourts.gov

Auditor’s Office OPEN
Phone 803-914-2114, 803-914-2115, 803-914-2175.
Email: twilliams@hamptoncountysc.org or  jjarrell@hamptoncountysc.org
Veteran’s Affairs OPEN
The Veteran’s Affairs office can be contacted by phone at 803-914-2085 email at iboles@hamptoncountysc.org or bhodges@hamptoncountysc.org
Public Works OPEN
The Public Works Department will remain open. They will be plowing roads if conditions allow. For questions please call 803-914-2134.
Buildings and Grounds can be contacted at 803-914-2135.

Building Department and 911 Addressing OPEN
You may call 803 914-2127; for anything regarding Building Permits, Planning & Zoning, Code Enforcement, Floodplain Information, and Trash & Debris Removal. Permit Applications are Online by going to the County Website at www.hamptoncountysc.org, and then selecting “Documents” for the appropriate applications needed by the customer.  These applications can be submitted via U.S. Mail to Hampton County Building Department, 201 Jackson Street West Hampton, SC 29924.

Magistrate Court OPEN
Please be advised that by Order of the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court dated March 16, 2020 all Magistrate Court jury trials, traffic court, criminal court, civil court and evictions and roll calls are cancelled until further notice to stem the spread of Coronavirus.  The magistrate office will remain open to accept court filings, payments and conduct emergency hearings only (including but limited to restraining orders, orders of protection and bond court). Currently, we are unable to re-schedule court dates.   When we can re-schedule your court dates parties will receive in the mail at the address the Court has on file a written Magistrate Court Summons hearing notice with the new court date.
In the meantime, if a party moves or changes their mailing address it is their responsibility to notify the court immediately and provide their new mailing address.  Failure to provide their new mailing address could result in trial in their absence.  
As of now the Magistrate Office will continue to be open during regularly hours to receive court filings and payments, conduct emergency hearings, and conduct bond court.  This is subject to change by Order of the Governor, the South Carolina Supreme Court, or the County of Hampton. We encourage you to monitor local media for the latest information on closings.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call (803)914-2230

Recreation Department CLOSED FOR EVENTS
The Recreation Department has cancelled all events at this time. You can reach this office at 803-943-2857.

Delinquent Tax OPEN
Please call 803-914-2125 or email us at for service information. hctaxcol@yahoo.com
Voter Registration OPEN
Any candidate seeking a political party’s nomination for any office in the 2020 General Election must file with the appropriate county board of voter registration & elections or the South Carolina Election Commission during the upcoming filing period. Please contact the voter’s registration office at 803-914-2081 or 803-914-2080.
Filing opens noon, March 16, 2020, and closes noon, March 30, 2020
State Election Commission Filing hours: Weekdays:  8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Filing hours: Weekdays:  8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Filing Form:  The Statement of Intention of Candidacy & Party Pledge (SICPP) form required for filing is available in the “Candidate Information” section of scVOTES.org and at the county elections office.
Filing Fee:  Filing fees are paid at the time of filing by candidates seeking the nomination of a party nominating by primary.  The list of filing fees is available at scVOTES.org and at the election commission office. Filing fee checks should be made payable to the appropriate state political party.  A candidate seeking the nomination of a party nominating by convention does not pay a filing fee.
State Ethics Filings:  Candidates are required to file a Statement of Economic Interests and a Campaign Disclosure online with the State Ethics Commission at http://ethics.sc.gov.  Failure to file these documents may result in a candidate fine but will not disqualify a candidate from the election.  Contact the State Ethics Commission for more information.
Other State Agencies are as follows:
County Libraries CLOSED
The Hampton County Library (Hampton and Estill) are currently closed. You will be able to access Wi-Fi outside the building.
Clemson Extension CLOSED
Clemson Extension is closed as of March 18, 2020. There will be someone in the office from 8:30am until noon and from 1pm until 4:30 daily.  Please call 803-942-3427 for information. 

Hampton County SCDHHS AND DSS CLOSED TO PUBLIC
SCDHHS AND DSS offices are closed to the public. They are working so please call 803-943-3641 for any information. 

Solicitors Office CLOSED
The Solicitors Office in Hampton County is closed. Please call 843-779-8689.

Probation Pardon and Parole CLOSED
These offices are closed to the Public. Please call 914-2274

REMINDERS AND HELPFUL LINKS
The chain of command and direction and control during a public health emergency is different than what is exercised during a natural or human-made disaster. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is the lead agency. DHEC officials are working closely with our federal partners at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  
If you are concerned about the coronavirus (COVID-19) or experiencing respiratory or flulike symptoms such as fever and/or cough, MUSC recommends you speak to an online virtual care provider. Virtual COVID-19 screenings are free. Just use the code COVID19 when you follow the link below and log in to MUSC’s Telehealth service.  No appointment is necessary, and this service also covers other conditions, such as allergy/hay fever, sinus infection, pink eye, sore throat, or the common cold. You can also call the Hampton County Health Department at  803-943-3878 for more information. https://campaigns.muschealth.org/virtual-care/index.html
 For more information, please visit the links below.  
 • SCDHEC -https://www.scdhec.gov/…/v…/coronavirusdisease-2019-covid-19
 • John Hopkins Center Global Tracker – https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/…/opsdashboa…/index.html… 299423467b48e9ecf6
 • CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
 • WHO - https://www.who.int/emergen…/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
 • Hampton County Government – https://www.hamptoncountysc.org
 • For general questions about COVID-19, the DHEC Care Line is here to help.
 Call 1-855-472-3432. Staff are answering calls 8 a.m.-6 p.m. every day.
 Should you have any questions, please visit The Hampton County Website or call the
 Hampton County Emergency Management Division at 803-914-2161 for information regarding COVID19. Hampton County Emergency Management and all our Emergency Support Function partners have been collaborating for several days now and will continue to monitor COVID-19.