Richland solicitor’s office closed because of COVID-19 cases but operating as normal
The 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office is closed after employees tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Solicitor Byron Gipson.
Gipson said the office was closed Thursday after he learned two employees had tested positive for COVID-19. The office did tracing to determine who the employees came in contact with. Neither employee has been in the building for a week, Gipson said.
While the physical office is closed, prosecutors are still working remotely, Gipson said. Prosecutors will be having virtual court on Friday.
Because the office has dealt with the coronavirus for months, it has protocols for safety and for dealing with a couple days of closure, Gipson said.
The office, which is located on the third floor of the Richland County Courthouse on Main Street in Columbia, will be deep cleaned on Friday.
Gipson expects the office to be open on Tuesday after a long Labor Day weekend.
The 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases in Richland County.
In March and April, South Carolina Chief Justice Donald Beatty shut down most courthouse as the pandemic hit. The judicial system began operating remotely, but by June courts were opening back up. In early August the state had its first in-person jury trial since the shutdowns.