Omicron spread keeps SC House, Senate balcony doors shut to the public for now
South Carolinians hoping to view state lawmakers debate and pass legislation in person from the balconies atop each chamber in 2022 will have to wait a little longer, at least until COVID-19 cases sparked by the omicron variant start to subside.
State House and Senate leaders have decided to keep balcony doors closed — for now — limiting access to only legislators.
“As we continue to evaluate rising COVID-19 case numbers across the state, I have decided to keep the balcony closed to visitors and guests to allow members space to social distance,” Senate President Thomas Alexander, R-Oconee, wrote in a Jan. 7 memo to colleagues. “We will continue to monitor the situation so when appropriate we can welcome visitors and guests back to the chamber.”
House Clerk Charles Reid confirmed that the House gallery also will be closed to the public.
The gallery doors remained shut last year to the public because of COVID-19 but open to lawmakers to spread out and cast votes. That’s forced the public to watch the Legislature from home, work or in the lobby between the two chambers.
South Carolina is in the midst of a COVID-19 surge once again, this time caused by the highly transmissible omicron variant, which makes up more than 90% of positive coronavirus cases nationwide.
The variant has resulted in an explosion of cases in South Carolina, which set daily and weekly record highs this month so far.
Legislators return to work Tuesday to start the 2022 session.
This story was originally published January 10, 2022 at 10:00 AM.
