The new law would ensure all houses of worship may remain open as long as other essential businesses are allowed.
South Carolina’s State Senate has advanced a bill which would label churches as “essential services,” in the event of another pandemic lockdown. Under the bill, H. 3105, houses of worship will stay open as long as other essential businesses are allowed.
WISTV notes that at no point during the pandemic did Gov. Henry McMaster impose church closures by state mandate. Still, the bill will ensure that they cannot be closed in the event of any emergency scenario, pandemic or otherwise. The bill stipulates, however, that the government can still mandate precautions like mask-wearing in church.
