(Columbia, SC) -- Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin is considering a new state of emergency due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.
The emergency declaration would include a mask mandate for public schools. Currently, this type of measure is prevented by a proviso in South Carolina's budget which would cut school funding if masks are required.
Mayor Benjamin says city officials would have jurisdiction if a state of emergency was enacted, but Governor McMaster's office says there are no loopholes that allow mask mandates.
A state of emergency would need to be confirmed by the Columbia City Council before going into effect.