COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster will lead a meeting of the S.C. Public Health Emergency Plan Committee to discuss the state’s preparedness for the potential impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-2019) to South Carolinians.

Governor McMaster previously called a meeting of the Committee on January 31st. (Details can be read on the DEHEC website.)

The Committee consists of “representatives of all state agencies relevant to public health emergency preparedness, and, in addition, a licensed physician from the private sector specializing in infectious diseases, a hospital infection control practitioner, a medical examiner, a coroner from an urban county or the coroner's designee, a member of the judiciary, and other members as may be considered appropriate.”

While no cases of the COVID-2019 have been identified at this time, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has taken the following proactive steps to protect the health of the public:

• Developed tools for the investigation of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases and provided training to epidemiology staff across the state to investigate and report cases.
• Communicated information to hospital laboratories, infection preventionists, and physicians to keep them informed about how to identify and report possible cases to DHEC.
• Communicated information regarding the virus and prevention resources to hospitals, businesses, schools and state agencies across the state.
• Developed this webpage to provide information and other resources about COVID-19 for the public.
• Held an informational briefing for legislators and reporters on COVID-19 preparations and activities in South Carolina on Jan. 29, 2020.
• Held a teleconference for hospital public information officers (PIOs) on Jan. 31, 2020.
• Provided an update for hospital executives at the South Carolina Hospital Association annual meeting on Feb. 5, 2020.
• Briefed the S.C. Board of Health and Environmental Control  on COVID-19 preparations and activities in South Carolina on Feb. 13, 2020.
• Held a teleconference for South Carolina university and college PIOs on Feb. 14, 2020.

WHO: Gov. Henry McMaster, S.C. Public Health Emergency Plan Committee

WHAT: Meeting of the Committee to discuss the state’s preparedness for the potential impact of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus to South Carolinians

WHEN: Monday, March 2, at 10:00 AM

WHERE: South Carolina Emergency Operations Center, 2779 Fish Hatchery Road, West Columbia, S.C.