Governor Henry McMaster said on Monday that some of the decisions he made involving the coronavirus pandemic in South Carolina have sparked “intense debate” among state officials, but he expressed confidence that “we have traced the right path”.
“There are no tensions between any of us on the team, but there is a lot of discussion to make those decisions,” said McMaster during a news conference at Bob Jones University in Greenville.
When saying that he consults a series of experts, McMaster said: “I am the one who must make the decisions”.
Her comments came after The State newspaper reported on Saturday that state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell said in June emails that McMaster’s team deceived the public to make it appear that she supported the Republican governor’s decision. to allow restaurants to resume dinner service and barber shops and other businesses to reopen in May.
Bell also told The Greenville News in an exclusive interview last month that a statewide order for a mask would do more to slow down COVID-19 in South Carolina than measures approved by local governments. Although more than 30 states have demanded facial coverage, McMaster has refused to issue a state edict, arguing that it would be difficult to enforce and that local authorities are better suited to deal with the problem.
More: What motivates Dr. Linda Bell, an epidemiologist from South Carolina
Greenville News also reported in July that state health officials warned McMaster in April that allowing South Carolina beaches to reopen presented serious risks related to the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 cases subsequently increased in coastal counties as people gathered there, often without wearing masks or adhering to social detachment practices designed to slow the spread of the disease and save lives.
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Carolina exceeded 100,000 on Monday. There were also almost 2,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in the state.
In the past few weeks, the number of COVID-19 cases in South Carolina has started to decline, despite the increase in deaths related to the respiratory virus. McMaster announced on July 29 that he was allowing cinemas, arenas, stadiums and other large venues to begin reopening under severe audience limits.
“I am confident that we are making the right decisions,” McMaster told a news conference on Monday.
US Senator Lindsey Graham, a Seneca Republican, expressed his support for McMaster while standing with the governor at the news conference.
“I think the spread of the virus is being handled in South Carolina responsibly,” said Graham.
Kirk Brown covers government and politics. Follow him on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM