| Dear fellow South Carolinians,
Thank you for subscribing to my weekly e-newsletter, and please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
In this week’s newsletter, I’d like to take the opportunity to discuss COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, and its impact on South Carolina.
Business in Washington, D.C.
Out of an abundance of caution, due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Hart Senate Office Building, my Washington, D.C. office will be teleworking through next week. Everyone in our office remains healthy and committed to continuing our work on behalf of South Carolinians.
In pursuit of that goal, I am returning to Washington, D.C. today as Congress continues to work on legislation regarding this issue. My goal is to provide temporary and targeted federal assistance to those who need it most during this crisis – and that will include small businesses. I look forward to reaching a bipartisan solution to help the American people who are facing both the health and financial challenges posed by coronaviruses.
Business in South Carolina
This afternoon, the CDC released new recommendations that no more than 10 people gather in one place for the next 15 days. During this time, my state offices will no longer be scheduling in-person meetings. We will continue to answer your phone calls and emails, and will keep working on behalf of the people of South Carolina.
State Updates
Governor McMaster declared a state of emergency throughout South Carolina last week and put measures in place to stem the tide of coronavirus. All schools and universities will be closed until March 31. During this time, the South Carolina Department of Education has been granted the ability to use summer food options for school closures.
As testing capabilities across the nation increase, we can expect to see more infections. But the government’s containment strategies have reduced numbers thus far and given the country more time to prepare its healthcare services. At this time, South Carolina is not experiencing a shortage of testing kits or other medical resources. In fact, the Medical University of South Carolina has recently begun trials of drive-through testing kits, which we hope to see more of in the near future.
You can also visit www.MUSC.care for a free virtual COVID-19 screening, and Prisma Health is also offering free virtual visits (with coupon code COVID19) at https://www.prismahealth.org/virtual-visit/. With a referral from a Prisma Health provider or a Prisma Health virtual visit, drive-thru testing options are available in the Upstate at Greenville Memorial Hospital and in the Midlands at Richland Hospital.
A Final Word
We are all in this together, and remember the simple steps we can each take to fight this virus. Wash your hands thoroughly and often, stay home if you are sick, and remember that you are not only protecting yourself, but the most vulnerable among us. Our nation is well prepared to fight this battle, and together we will emerge stronger than ever.
For coronavirus related resources and information, visit here.
To sign up for COVID-19 updates from the CDC, visit here.
Sincerely,
Tim | 