What you need to know this week: Charleston leaders are weighing options for a legal battle alongside the City of Columbia to mandate masks in public spaces, including schools despite a current legislative proviso prohibiting such orders. Meanwhile, South Carolina hit a grim milestone this week, topping 10,000 total COVID deaths (numbers currently sit at 8,847 confirmed, 10,039 total).
Comments from City Councilmen Ross Appel and Dudley Gregorie in favor of combatting South Carolina’s state leaders came during a special council meeting Wednesday.
“I’ve looked into the legal issues, and in my view, this issue is not nearly as black and white as Attorney General Wilson suggests,” Appel said during the special meeting. “I think this is a legal fight worth having — we’re talking about the health and safety of our kids for crying out loud.”
Councilman Harry Griffin stood against such measures, supporting instead a compromise of recommending mask-wearing in public spaces without a mandate, a resolution that was passed unanimously.
The next council meeting, during which the idea of a legal fight for a mask mandate would be discussed in further detail, is set for Tuesday evening.
Latest COVID-19 data
South Carolina health officials reported 21,335 total cases, with 15,248 confirmed, of the coronavirus between Aug. 7 and Aug. 13. A total of 89 new deaths, with 74 confirmed, were reported this week. The percent positive, as of Friday, was 14.6%.
Percentage of S.C. residents with at least 1 vaccine: 53.3%
Percentage of S.C. residents who have completed vaccination: 45.5%
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