SC Gov. Henry McMaster tests positive for COVID-19
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has tested positive for COVID-19, and despite mild symptoms will undergo an antibody treatment to keep those symptoms from worsening, his office said Tuesday.
The governor, who is 73, was notified of his diagnosis late Monday after he took a routine test earlier that day. His positive diagnosis comes after his wife, Peggy, tested positive for COVID-19 last Friday. Both tested the Thursday before, but McMaster’s test results then were negative.
Though the first lady has remained asymptomatic, the Governor’s Office said that McMaster is experiencing mild symptoms, such as a cough and slight fatigue. The governor underwent outpatient Monoclonal antibody treatment Tuesday to prevent his symptoms from worsening based on advice from his personal doctor.
McMaster’s office noted the antibody treatment is available to the general public.
Because of his age, the McMaster’s positive diagnosis puts him at a higher risk for experiencing more serious effects of COVID-19. People in their early 70s are five times as likely to be hospitalized than those in their 20s, according to health officials.
The governor will quarantine and continue to work from home for 10 days as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Peggy and I urge everyone to be extra careful during the Christmas holiday season,” McMaster said in a statement. “This virus spreads very easily.”
It is not clear where the governor and his wife may have contracted the virus.
The Governor’s Office said doctors with the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control say there is no way to pinpoint exactly the location. But his office said that McMaster quarantined when he became aware that he was in close contact with someone who had the virus and sent all the Governor’s Residence staff home to quarantine and get tested.
“Because the governor followed the guidelines and recommendations as a close contact, SCDHEC has determined there are no ‘close contacts’ to the governor,” the Governor’s Office said.
However, while the state’s public health agency may be unaware of where the governor got COVID-19, McMaster had kept a full schedule over the past few weeks, attending multiple events that included a White House Christmas party on Dec. 14 with Peggy.
South Carolina’s first couple tested negative for the virus the Monday before the White House party that evening. The White House has been criticized repeatedly for holding multiple indoor holiday parties where photos show attendees inside without masks.
The governor’s spokesperson Brian Symmes told The State last week that McMaster wore a face mask when necessary and when social distancing was not possible. But the governor also has been seen at other indoor events without wearing a mask.
McMaster sparked some social media outcry last Sunday when he tweeted a photo of himself without a mask on while presenting former state Sen. Mike Fair the state’s highest honor, the Order of the Palmetto, at Faith Baptist Church in Taylors. A receptionist who answered the phone for the church Tuesday told The State that they were not aware of any positive cases since that service.
McMaster was, however, seen wearing a mask in a separate photo tweeted Thursday, when he met with Frank Rainwater, head of the state’s Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, and Edward Grimball, chairman of the Board of Economic Advisors and other staff.
The governor has been the target of criticism, both for refusing to enact a statewide mask order and instead relying on local governments to implement measures, and for tightening restrictions on business activity in the early stages of the virus’ outbreak in South Carolina.
After the Thanksgiving holiday when South Carolina underwent yet another surge, McMaster called for “redoubling efforts” to stop further spread from happening. But that spread hasn’t stopped, with the state’s health agency reporting more than 2,000 new cases a day for more than a week. Since March, more than 4,600 people have died, according to state health officials.
And hospital officials have urged South Carolinians to heed health protocols as hospitalizations statewide for COVID-19 have climbed.
“It appears many people have let their guard down,” McMaster said earlier this month at a press conference. “I know we have fatigue from all of the things that we need to do, but now is not the time for us to let up.”
The governor and the first lady have not been the only notable South Carolinians to test positive.
South Carolina’s outgoing U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham was among the first public officials to test positive. His challenger and U.S. Rep.-elect Nancy Mace tested positive for the virus soon after. So did U.S. Rep. Tom Rice of Myrtle Beach and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson last week.
The state’s Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette also tested positive for the virus in September.
McMaster received wishes to get well Tuesday from across the political spectrum.
“Our hopes and prayers for a speedy recovery and only mild symptoms as our Governor and our First Lady work through COVID-19,” tweeted Trav Robertson, chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party. “SC Strong!”
This story was originally published December 22, 2020 at 12:19 PM with the headline "SC Gov. Henry McMaster tests positive for COVID-19."
