Gov. Henry McMaster wants to allow in-person nursing home and assisted living facility visits.

He has asked the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control to promptly update visitation guidelines.

“We are committed to protecting the physical, mental and emotional health of our elderly and at-risk people and their loved ones,” the governor wrote in a letter to DHEC Chairman Mark Elam today.

“Although no policy or procedure can eliminate all possibility of risk, it is clear that the time has come to expand current rules to allow in-person visitation by immediate family members, loved ones or caregivers.”

The governor restricted visitation to elderly care and assisted living homes on March 13 barring end-of-life circumstances.

“It was the most effective way to contain the spread of covid-19 and to save the lives of our state’s elderly and at-risk residents.”