Columbia mayor declares local state of emergency amid coronavirus pandemic
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin declared a local state of emergency Monday evening in an effort to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.
The declaration is effective immediately and puts restrictions on local restaurants, limiting six patrons to each restaurant table and requiring six feet between tables. Patrons are also encouraged to use take-out, drive-through and delivery options, according to the ordinance.
Additionally, all city businesses are required to reduce their legal capacity by 50%, according to the declaration which City Council is expected to approve at its 2 p.m. meeting Tuesday.
Curfews for city residents are also possible later on, Benjamin said Monday evening.
“This is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, unlike anything this country has seen in 100 years,” he said.
The move came hours after South Carolina experienced its first death due to COVID-19, a Lexington County nursing home resident. More than 4,400 people in the nation have been infected with the virus as of Monday, leading to more than 80 deaths. South Carolina health officials in a nine-day span have gone from no coronavirus cases to at least 33, most of which are in counties neighboring Richland County.
But just because no one has tested positive in the county yet doesn’t mean the virus isn’t here, said Benjamin, who urged area residents to take safety measures.
“We’d be foolish to assume there are no coronavirus cases in Richland County,” he said. “We need to operate in our daily lives as if we’re all in grave danger.”
The declaration follows similar moves made by President Donald Trump and Gov. Henry McMaster.
Benjamin said stopping the spread of the virus will require a level of sacrifice from residents, one that he says very few living Americans have ever had to endure.
“(The virus outbreak) will affect our social lives, our economic lives and our health,” he said.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 8:04 PM.