FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2021
Contact: lauren@scdp.org, 803-832-0819
SOUTH CAROLINA’S DISASTER GOVERNOR MCMASTER PUTTING TEACHERS’ LIVES ON THE LINE IN FAILED COVID-19 RESPONSE
Columbia, S.C.— Eleven months into the greatest public health crisis the state has faced in a generation, Governor Henry McMaster has repeatedly failed to lead or encourage any of his fellow Republicans in the State House to prioritize the vaccination of educators and other school support staff members.
As the death toll in South Carolina approaches 8,000 lives lost to the coronavirus, and medical officials scramble to determine the number of undetected coronavirus variant infections, Governor McMaster is demanding local school districts submit a plan for returning to five day in-person learning, before teachers in all 46 counties are granted vaccine access. According to reporting by The State, roughly 600,000 South Carolinians have been vaccinated out of a population of over 5 million.
Adding insult to injury, he has successfully botched the rollout of vaccines. Where the majority of law enforcement in South Carolina have received vaccines, teachers, who are no doubt the most essential of workers, are being accused of skipping in the line. Our educators AND their families, deserve better.
The Governor must present the State with a comprehensive plan to end transmission of the virus in our state and expedite vaccinations for South Carolina teachers. Governor McMaster must work more diligently to end COVID-19 in South Carolina.
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