Columbia City Council to discuss curtailing meetings because of coronavirus
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Columbia officials are discussing whether to discourage citizens from attending City Council meetings because of the threat of coronavirus.
The city sent out a news release Monday night outlining plans to be discussed Tuesday. The City Council will discuss suspending normal operations at council meetings at Tuesday’s 2 p.m. meeting, the news release said.
Among the proposals is a plan that would direct only essential city staff to be at the council meetings, the news release said. Also up for discussion is whether to discourage public attendance at council meetings and limit the number of council members who attend the meetings.
“If approved by City Council, the changes will become effective immediately and stay in effect until further notice,’’ the city’s news release said.
In a statement in the news release, Mayor Steve Benjamin said the city is being extra cautious.
“City of Columbia leadership wants to lead by example and send a clear message that we can all follow,’’ Benjamin’s statement said. “Public and private sector leaders, faith leaders, non-profits and individuals should be thoughtful about all of our actions at this time. We have decided to err on the side of caution, and encourage all across the community to do so as well.”
Paul Livingston, chairman of Richland County Council, said he’s discussed similar changes to county council’s meeting format with Benjamin. Both men attended a meeting of the Midlands Coronavirus Task Force on Friday.
Livingston said he will talk with other county council members and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control about making any changes to the council’s meeting format ahead of next week’s council meeting.
Coronavirus has sparked fears across the country about people spending time in large gatherings. Seven people have tested positive for the disease in South Carolina, most of them in Kershaw County not far from Columbia.
So far, state officials have said there is no reason for healthy people to change their daily routines, aside from washing their hands, covering their coughs and avoiding sick people, according to a previous article from The State.
“The risk of contracting COVID-19 remains low for the general public,” DHEC’s Rick Toomey said at a Monday afternoon press conference.
Those who are sick, however, should stay home to avoid getting other people sick.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said Monday there was no reason for government offices to close or people to avoid large gatherings such as St. Pat’s in Five Points.
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 10, 2020 at 9:26 AM.
