 Well, thank y'all for joining us today on on we know relatively short notice to announce that today I'll be issuing an emergency order declaring a state of emergency for the city of Columbia, South Carolina. For those of you relatively new to know was new to the to the pandemic and you've heard some of this language in the not too distant past under state law, the mayor of the city has the authority to declare a state of emergency. Within 24 hours, the city council must meet to confirm that state of emergency. City Council will meet tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. And I fully expect that we will have the support of the city council in this endeavor. We're watching some amazingly difficult trends emerge that I'll leave each and every one of us deeply disturbed after watching a significant suppression of the virus by men and women who committed themselves to being vaccinated. Um, an early robust testing strategy that the city was actively involved in along with so many different public and private sector and public health driven partners here in the city. We are again at a significant challenging point. The rise of the delta variant has not only imperiled our public health with a much more contagious version of the COVID-19 virus, but we've watched it rage through our community. A 10 fold increase in infections just in the past month. The delta variant unlike the previous strands of the virus has shown not only an amazing ability to, um, uh, infect, um, all of us, but an incredible ability to affect our children. Uh, many of us shuttered as we read reports of our Children's hospitals all across this country, including right here in our fair city, being at capacity with our Children suffering from COVID-19 and other respiratory, uh, elements along with all the other elements, many of which we're seeing make their way back into a common lexicon because of this anti vaccine, um, movement and discussion that we're seeing across the country. Children dealing with chicken pox and whooping cough and any number of different elements. Uh, we're the point right now where there are several vaccines authorized for emergency use by the CDC and an increasing number of South Carolinians are taking advantage of that vaccine. And we need to see, uh, see that number increase dramatically well over 70% to try and suppress the incidence of this virus. Regrettably, uh, the virus, the vaccines have not been approved for those under 12 uh, and, uh, in the U. S. That means that in two weeks across this community, tens of thousands of young people will be required to go back to school. Parents are legally required to send their Children back to school. We have compulsory attendance laws in South Carolina. Thousands of dedicated, hardworking, committed teachers who have watched their lives return upside down because they've been pursuing their passion of wanting to educate our Children, educate our babies are facing an amazingly uncertain future as they decide to either pursue their passion of educating our Children or to risk their lives by stepping back into a classroom. We have determined that this amazing confluence of challenges, uh, has put us into a position where we must do what we think is necessary and that is do everything possible. Everything within our authority to protect the health, life and safety of our families of our Children first and the professionals who have dedicated their lives to providing for them. Um, so, um, that's where we are. I will say this. Um, I did reach out to several elected officials today, spoken leaders appointed officials above both Richland one enriching to the director of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, uh, uh, had a great conversation with our attorney general and also with a number of other public sector leaders to express the gravity of the matter before us and why we're acting and under what authority we're acting. It was clear to us legal opinion from our legal staff that we have the authority to do exactly what we're doing here today and we're fully prepared to hold that position and fight that position all the way to the U. S. Supreme Court. That's how strongly we feel about this. Um, of course, you know, I'm joined here by city councilman Howard Duvall, city manager, Teresa Wilson. Um, and, um, you know, it seems like yeah, a lot of times of the last year we've been standing in the gap. Uh, the city doesn't mind. City leadership doesn't mind speaking up when when we feel some things need to be said. Now, we'll say this to and I will wrap up my comments. I've been incredibly encouraged by the discourse I've had with a number of our friends and others who shared different political ideas, different political opinions who have different ideas about the vaccination process or masking. And I've found unanimous support and support of protecting our children. This is something we can all rally around. We can all support. Let's save our babies. Let's protect our babies. Let's protect the men and women who educate them every single day. And hopefully we'll see no type of legal challenge to this action. Thank you. Any questions? Yeah, that is because that's the that's the language from the proviso attached to the state budget this year. Um, our intention is to provide the mask. We will provide mass to the 40 plus schools that fall into this definition. We're talking about elementary schools and middle schools across the footprint of the city of Columbia. Most of those schools are in Richland one. Some of those schools are obviously private. One school is in Richland two. We we hope and pray that we'll see other jurisdictions that that our rich and one rich and two election rich and five schools and the families affected by the very same situation might follow suit and we can find a uniform regional approach. So that is the language from the proviso. This is clearly not in violation of that. Oh, our fire marshals just as they enforce the mass ordinance for all of us adults will be deployed across the across the school district, checking in on on schools and and there will be a $100 fine for every violation attached to this. So we're gonna there's gonna be accountability attached to this as well. Expanding this again. No, you know, not right. Not right now that that that was that's not been robustly discussed by city council. And we're at a point right now where as much as it might cause many of us a great degree of consternation and frustration, adults are making decisions for themselves, whether to be vaccinated, whether they be masked. Our Children do not have that option. I think our goal has to be to continue to follow the data. And if, in fact, we continue to see the delta variant rage through this country, the way that it is particularly across the American south where vaccination rights are not where they ought to be, then everything's still on the table. We'll use good data. Data gives you intelligence intelligence allows you to make good informed public health policy. So taking nothing off the table that specifically is not on the table right now. We'll see, you know, in this space and others, the city has been in the vanguard over the last several years. Our colleagues are city council and say almost every vote we've taken has been unanimous. So this is this is not a partisan issue or regional issue. And we've had any number of conversations with leaders at the municipal association. As you know, Howard Duvall is a former executive director of the Missile Association for many years. We spent a great deal of time with our colleagues at the conference just two weekends ago. And this was very much an issue of discussion. I did talk to talk to several mayors and including the mayors of agreement with Charleston about this. I have no idea what their intentions are right now. But I hope and pray that we'll find more and more people following our lead. In the schools and $100 fine for students or the family. So will we see fire marshal in our schools? The the district has ultimate authority over the schools by virtue of our constitution. The principles have the authority to run those schools. So that that's where the authority will will will lie. Our fire marshals under the direction of chief Jenkins will be tasked with enforcing the the ordinance as they have will be common sense will be will be thoughtful. We know that we're obviously working with Children. And that will be our goal. But there will be a accountability attached to this. And I just think it's so important. Some of the questions I got from some of the parents as we were, even as we were approaching the podium, we want to remove every sense of uncertainty from your decision making process. This is the law in the city of Columbia. This is the law. We intend to enforce it. We want to give you the safety and security and and sanctity of mind to understand that at least at those schools within our jurisdiction and hopefully we'll be able to work closely with our neighboring jurisdictions, both the unincorporated area of the county and other smaller towns to maybe between now and the beginning of the school year to find some uniformity. But in the schools, I've got a list of them right here. We're talking about roughly 43 schools, public and private. This will be enforced. No, we're not. We're not finding kids. No, this is this is to the to the administrator, the adult charge with enforcing the law. No, we're not. We're not finding kids. Well, the governor does not the governor has expressed his opinion that is not state law and respect is a fact is his ability to have his own opinion. Government overreach. I mean, we live in the greatest democratic nation in the history of the world. The reality is that we are a nation of walls, not of men. And if in fact we're going to maintain some degree of order, some degree of public health, if in fact we're going to preserve lives and livelihoods, we have watched what this pandemic has done not only to our lives, our public health, but also our economy and the way that we live. If in fact we're not willing to act to put things back on track, and I'm not sure what that says about us as a community, as a society, as a nation, as a state or a city. So to those who disagree, I respect their ability and right to disagree. We're going to continue to move forward to save lives and save livelihoods. The I've communicated with both obviously the two public school superintendents that are I know are affected by this and made them clearly aware of our intentions without any doubt. So the last part of the question was what school teachers will not be able to enforce the law. Well, that's not the proviso says the proviso provides over beat them says no school district or any of its schools may use any funds appropriated or authorized pursuant to this act to require that students and our employees wear a face mask at any of its education facilities. This prohibition extends to the announcement or enforcement in any such policy. So the reality is that prevailing legal opinions that schools is that the legislature cannot mandate schools not be allowed to require a mask, but they can withhold associated money there. This will not require any funds appropriate by the legislature to enforce will provide the mask. And now we're just asking everyone to comply with the law. And this is a law in Colombia. You explained the jurisdiction over 40. Do you have private private schools called 911? Police show up at private schools have a fire public sector. Agencies show up as well. This is a civil society where the laws of the public apply to every institution, public and private. There's a clear exemption just as when we did the mask ordinance last year that speaks very clear to two religious exemptions. And that's also stated in the executive order for conversation with Attorney General Wilson. How did that go? What did you say? Well, Al and I, we've been friends of a very, a very long time. We have some fundamental differences on any number of issues. Um, but I wanted to give him the courtesy of knowing him knowing exactly what we're doing and the rationale for the decision making. And, uh, and that's that conversation was it was it was it was a great courtesy conversation. I'm trying to remember what the 61 61 days is. I think the limit of authority. So that's sort of, you know, honestly, the hope and the hope and prayers and this is not an issue. You know, I mean, um, the numbers don't seem to be trending in that direction. However, um, I love if, uh, the first day of school, if, um, uh, if this is, uh, something deep in our rearview mirror, hopefully, uh, certainly after 61 days, it's, um, it's not an issue. Uh, but, um, but we'll monitor the data will stay engaged. Uh, this is a, this is a place I'll say this unless you have some more questions where, uh, yes, ma'am. Um, this is the place where I hope none of us want to be. Um, uh, we, we, we want everyone to rally together to lock arm and arm and do everything we can to suppress this virus. Uh, we ought not have to go into another academic. Yeah, I'm a father of two, of two school-aged girls, uh, both of my teenagers, they both have vaccinated, uh, but they will both be showing up at school wearing masks and, um, doing everything you can to protect their health. We're gonna get through this. The only way we're gonna get through it, um, is, is if we do it together. Yeah, this, um, this is an emergency declaration and an ordinance that has been, um, narrowly tailored, uh, to address a very acute, uh, challenge. What do you do for not only those that can't be vaccinated, but those that also, um, vote less and, and voiceless. Uh, and those are the children under, under 12. Um, I would rather it also apply to, uh, high schools. I think it's, it's, it's more securely, um, uh, the legal foundation, the, the, the public policy argument is much more articulate as it relates to those who cannot yet receive vaccine. I would love to find some leadership at the, um, not just here on a local level, but on the state level and national level backing our play. Uh, this, this is a time we gotta put the foolish politics behind us and decide that we're gonna do everything we can to preserve lives. Um, and, and hope and pray that we'll, uh, we'll find the support that allows us to not only deal with high school students, but college students and, and, and every single one of us. If you answered that original question, people are still confused about the accessibility. Teachers texting me right now, wondering what, what's gonna do. Teachers, teachers, teachers will not be fine the way you're masked. Okay? Uh, the, the, the CEOs of the schools will be held responsible. I fully expect based on my conversations with our, um, uh, superintendents and other, um, public policy leaders that they will comply with our, our, our local law. We love teachers. We will support teachers. We want to make sure that our teachers are able to remain healthy and safe. Uh, those that, uh, obviously, um, uh, will not comply with the law. We'll deal with that when the, when the time comes. Uh, but, uh, this, this is, this is not meant to be an issue for teachers or, or, or, for our, our babies. We do expect parents to support our play. Uh, and, and if we have to find some other way to, to deal with it, this is an, this is an evolving crisis as, as it has been for the last year and a half. We'll, uh, we'll evolve along with it. And, and, and, and I, and I hope and pray that they will be empowered, um, by their superiors to do the right thing. The school districts, I will tell you, our school districts, um, partners of school district leaders, our school district commissioners, um, uh, have been on, on, on one accord wanting the ability to make sure that it can keep schools safe. Uh, we've supported them the last year and a half. We'll continue to support them and we see this very much as a partnership. Um, so the goal is just to make it clear. Uh, this is our expectation. We expect, uh, everyone within the four corners of the city of Columbia to abide by this law upon passage, uh, by, by city council tomorrow. It's not, it's not. Just to clarify, this, uh, does it, does it or does it not? Oh, absolutely it does. Um, the facial covering shall be required by all faculty, staff, children over the age of two, and visitors, uh, and all, and all public buildings at public and private schools of daycares whose purpose is to educate and to care for children between the ages of two and fourteen and the slow spread of the novel COVID virus, uh, and the disease COVID-19 within the city limits. Yeah, wear your mask. If you can, please consider getting vaccinated. Um, let's do our part. This is, uh, this is a journey we've been on much too long together and it's the type of thing, a pandemic we obviously, none of us have lived in one before, uh, unless you're 103 years old. Uh, this is something we can only see our way out together. So let's do it together. Thank y'all. God bless you.