Metro Columbia CEO recently reported on COVID-19 policy changes impacting Carolinians using the joint brief by the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health (IMPH) and the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM):

The rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic has brought much of the world to a halt as increasing infection rates have led to stronger federal, state and local actions to address the impact and limit the spread. To aid decision-makers, the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health (IMPH) and the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) released a joint brief that examines the COVID-19 pandemic and state and federal policy changes that will impact residents.

At the federal level, Congress has worked quickly to fund public health efforts to stem the spread of the virus, help those impacted by the economic slowdown and support the economy.

In South Carolina, numerous actions have been taken to address the crisis caused by the spread of the new coronavirus:

• Governor Henry McMaster continues to issue executive orders to limit the spread of the virus and connect citizens with food and health care resources.
• Public schools are closed through the end of April.
• Universities are ending their semesters online.
• The state tax deadline has been delayed until July 15.
• The Chief Justice has halted all evictions.
• The South Carolina General Assembly and Governor McMaster have allocated $45 million to the Department of Health and Environmental Control to combat COVID-19.
• The Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing implemented procedures to issue temporary licenses for out-of-state physicians, physician assistants, nurses and respiratory care practitioners without fee for 90 days.

Read the full report by Metro Columbia CEO here.