COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As South Carolina reported its first death Monday from the coronavirus, lawmakers plan to return to the Capitol, but only long enough to pass a $45 million emergency request from state health officials.
State senators planned a normal week when they left Thursday. Those plans changed after Gov. Henry McMaster canceled all schools for the next two weeks and urged that all public gatherings be limited to 100 people or less. Hours later, federal health officials suggested that number be cut to 50.
Now senators plan to come back Tuesday to approve emergency funding for state health officials, with the House planning to cut its week off short Thursday to finalize the bill.
On Monday, a patient who contracted COVID-19 in a Lexington County nursing home died, marking the state’s first death from the virus, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control said in a statement.
Meanwhile, cruise ship passengers returned to Charleston on Monday after a four-day cruise to the Bahamas on the Carnival Sunshine. They said they had their temperatures frequently taken while on board, but not as they left the ship . No one was wearing a face mask.
Several passengers said they had never seen a cleaner cruise ship. They said they weren’t allowed to serve themselves any food and there was hand sanitizer everywhere.
As of Sunday evening, state health officials said 28 people, including the nursing home patient who later died, had been diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Carolina. More than half the cases are from Kershaw and Lancaster counties and are interconnected.
Officials in Kershaw County planned a news conference Monday afternoon.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of victims recover.
After the Senate adjourned Thursday, McMaster asked for $45 million in emergency money for the state Department of Health and Environmental Control to pay for overtime for workers, possible quarantines of lower income residents and other needs.
The Senate Finance Committee planned to meet Tuesday morning to vote on the proposal, said Republican Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman. It was expected to be approved by the full Senate later Tuesday and sent to the House, according to emails among the senators.
The Finance Committee meeting will be live-streamed given that the Senate building has been closed to the public because of the virus. Ten of the state’s 46 senators are 70 or older, the age group that federal health officials say are most susceptible to CODIV-19.
The House had planned to take this week off before the virus became a public health threat. House Speaker Jay Lucas is asking members to come back Thursday and approve the emergency money.
When either chamber of the Legislature will meet after that is unknown.
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