What you need to know: Gov. Henry McMaster pushed state legislators this week to pass a bill that would protect business owners from being held liable if customers believe they contracted COVID-19 at their establishment.
The state Senate passed the South Carolina COVID-19 Liability Immunity Act in February 2021, but the bill lost steam once it moved to the House. The Center Square reported McMaster wrote a letter to legislators earlier this week stating that 70% of businesses that survived the pandemic “cite the lack of liability coverage as the greatest threat to their future.”
If enacted, the bill would retroactively apply beginning March 13, 2020.
Latest COVID-19 data
South Carolina health officials reported 408 confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, with 19 confirmed deaths.
With 10,992 tests reported Thursday, 4.7% were positive.
Confirmed cases in S.C.: 477,395 (+408)
Total positive cases in Charleston County: 42,233 (+31)
Total positive cases in Berkeley County: 17,043 (+19)
Total positive cases in Dorchester County: 17,254 (+19)
Deaths in S.C. from COVID-19: 8,266 (+19)
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