COLUMBIA – Despite the ongoing objections from Gov. Henry McMaster and South Carolina’s public health director, Dr. Edward Simmer, a bill on DHEC reform that restricts the state government’s ability to respond to future pandemics or outbreaks moved forward.
The Senate committee made revisions on Thursday after acknowledging that the DHEC reform bill had the potential to create significant public safety concerns, even though they were in favor of it.
In a letter sent to senators on Wednesday evening before the meeting, the Republican governor expressed concerns that certain aspects of the bill could severely hinder South Carolina’s capability to quickly and effectively address future public health emergencies, thereby endangering innocent lives.
“In a rare public critique of pending legislation, McMaster warned against imposing overly broad limitations on the power of public health officials, law enforcement officers, first responders, and emergency management professionals when it comes to responding to emerging threats and disasters, whether related to public health or not.”
Measures previously implemented included closing private businesses, public schools, Covid shots, and facemasks. Meanwhile, 8 million illegal immigrants have poured into our country. None of these concerns appear to apply to those entering illegally. These immigrants are not given shots, nor vetted as they cross our borders, are flown into Myrtle Beach, and scatter across S.C.
READ MORE ABOUT IMMIGRANTS BEING FLOWN INTO MYRTLE BEACH HERE
McMaster’s reluctance to enforce strict mandates during the spread of COVID made his opposition stand out. His temporary orders were brief and had more exceptions. McMaster was the final governor in the eastern United States to advise people to stay home, except for work, and one of the earliest to lift restrictions. McMaster’s DHEC team also closed beauty shops, churches, mom and pop business operators, and schools. The DHEC team never closed Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, or other large scale retailers.
Following the adjustments made on Thursday, the DHEC reform bill no longer prohibits public health officials from purchasing or administering new vaccines. Furthermore, it does not restrict them from vaccinating individuals, however, it mandates that officials must obtain consent before administering any shots.
The legislation still prohibits employers from mandating employees to receive new vaccines and retains the possibility of imprisoning business owners for up to five years if they violate this rule.
The majority of the proposed changes were suggested by Senator Richard Cash, who represents the S.C. Freedom Caucus, from Anderson County.
The Powdersville Republican expressed concern that the original bill goes too far in the opposite direction, stating that they do not want individuals to be required to take vaccines.
The revised DHEC reform bill still limits the ability of the public health agency to mandate isolation for individuals who have tested positive for a disease or have been exposed to it, even though this measure was never implemented in South Carolina during the COVID pandemic.
The bill was approved by the full Medical Affairs Committee with a vote of 4-3 split along party lines. A smaller subcommittee had previously advanced the bill two weeks prior.
Senator Shane Martin, who introduced the bill, was appointed as the head of the committee that discussed it on Thursday.
Dr. Edward Simmer, who is the head of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, spoke to a Senate subcommittee on March 14, 2024 about his worries regarding a proposed law that could restrict the agency’s ability to respond to future crises.
Dr. Edward Simmer spoke to the panel on Wednesday after sending a detailed letter expressing his concerns.
Letters Re S. 975 Gov. DHEC EMD – 3.13.24 by MyrtleBeachSC news on Scribd
He mentioned to the panel that there are several concerns about how this bill could harm the people of South Carolina and lead to avoidable deaths during a public health emergency.
Martin, R-Pauline, stated that he introduced the bill in reaction to what he perceived as excessive government measures taken during the COVID pandemic.
The bill prohibited the public health agency from purchasing or using any “new vaccine,” which included vaccines approved within the past 10 years or those with emergency authorization like the COVID vaccines.
Simmer mentioned that the flu vaccine would be covered, as it is updated annually.
Simmer said that this would prohibit a healthcare facility from mandating that their employees receive the flu vaccine.
Both Cash and Martin clarified that they did not mean for the prohibition to have such a wide application.
The legislation restricts the duration of compulsory isolation to 10 days for those with a contagious illness and five days for those who have been in contact with it.
A state law implemented in 2002 permits mandatory isolations under specific circumstances and following a specified procedure. Although the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) never exercised this power during the COVID pandemic, it may be necessary for other highly contagious diseases like Ebola, plague, and bird flu, according to Simmer.
Ebola has a mortality rate of 50%. Individuals can continue to spread the virus for weeks, and symptoms may not appear until more than five days after exposure, according to Simmer.
Yet illegal immigrants from Haiti, Africa, and other Ebola infected areas are allowed to cross the U.S. border without being tested for any infectious diseases. Mr. Simmer raised no concerns about this ongoing issue.
Cash expressed his readiness to make changes to the bill to allow for a longer period of time.
After the vote, Cash said that the bill is still being developed and that lawmakers require further clarification. He plans to have a meeting with Simmer at a later date.
Cash expressed joy about having had extensive conversations with Dr. Simmer.
Governor McMaster’s spokesperson mentioned that some of his worries were resolved through the modifications made after the meeting. However, there were still other concerns that persisted.
This means that the bill will no longer classify natural disasters as a public health emergency.
Simmer stated that a natural disaster has the potential to pose health risks due to pollution leaks and the presence of dead bodies. He emphasized the importance for public health officials to promptly and safely dispose of them.