Cayce council calls for statewide shelter-in-place order and considers separate city rule
City of Cayce leaders are calling for a statewide shelter-in-place order to help contain the spread of the coronavirus.
On Friday evening, the five-member council of Cayce voted unanimously for a resolution calling on Gov. Henry McMaster to immediately issue a statewide mandatory shelter-in-place order, also know as a stay-at-home law, “for the health and well-being of our Cayce residents and all South Carolinians.”
“Instead of risking lives while letting the economy limp along with patchwork solutions, the Governor can implement orders that are consistent and far-reaching especially as the NC Governor has just done so,” said Cayce Mayor Elise Partin in a statement. “If our Governor continues to avoid taking swift action that will protect our citizens and possibly avoid a long-term economic impact, then the City of Cayce will continue to consider a local shelter-in-place ordinance.”
A shelter-in-place ordinance requires that people stay in their homes unless going to essential services like doctors appointments or grocery stores. Such ordinances have passed in other cities in the United States, aimed at containing the outbreak of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus. Columbia and Charleston passed shelter-in-place ordinances. Greenville is considering a similar law.
The state’s attorney general has questioned the legality of municipalities passing shelter-in-place ordinances, saying that call rests in the governor’s hands alone.
While McMaster has made efforts to contain the illness, such as ordering specific quarantines and closing schools, he’s stopped short of ordering people to shelter-in-place, saying he’d take such a step only when necessary.
More than 530 people in South Carolina have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, while at least 13 have died, according to health officials.
Lexington County, where Cayce is located, has at least 20 confirmed cases. Neighboring Richland County has at least 65 cases and ranks second in the state for the highest number of people with the virus.
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.