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The Butler County Commission held a meeting via teleconference at 4:30 p.m. today, Thursday, April 2, to discuss ways to assist in eliminating the spread of COVID-19.

Three hours following the announcement of a city-wide curfew in the City of Greenville, the Commission unanimously voted to follow suit and enact a county-wide curfew beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, April 3. Curfew hours will continue until 5 a.m. each day, seven days a week, mirroring the City of Greenville’s curfew.

“In talking with our district commissioners, they feel like this is the best thing that we can do for the safety of our citizens right now,” District 2 Commissioner and Chairman Jesse McWilliams said. “We are up against incredible odds with something that we have never encountered, so we are trying to do everything that we can to slow the process of this pandemic that’s taken this country over.”

Both the county and City of Greenville’s curfews will continue until further notice.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the total positive cases of coronavirus statewide had increased to 1,251. Total deaths remained at 17.

There are some exceptions to the curfew, including first responders, utility and telecommunication employees and others. A list will be published as soon as it is provided by the Commission.

Commissioners Joey Peavy (District 1), Frank Hickman (District 3), Allin Whittle (District 4) and Darrell Sanders (District 5), along with County Administrator Diane Kilpatrick, Engineer Dennis McCall, Sheriff Danny Bond, Attorney Calvin Poole, media members and other county employees were also included in the teleconference.

More will be published on the site as it is made available.