After 14 bitter covid-19 pandemic months, we are nearer a normal life.

Gov. Henry McMaster ended the state of emergency Monday.

Since the pandemic started in March 2020, McMaster issued 30 emergency orders, each lasting 15 days.

Despite lower numbers, the Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Director Dr. Edward Skimmer said the disease will not go away but can be controlled as more people are vaccinated.

The governor said South Carolinians are not going to be forced or coerced to be vaccinated.

DHEC reported 79 new SC covid-19 cases Monday.

Since the pandemic started, South Carolina has had 492,356 confirmed positive cases and 8,594 reported covid-related deaths in a state with more than 5 million residents.

Some medical experts have challenged the number of deaths blamed on covid.

They say they believe many deaths were actually caused by other ailments.

Almost 8 million covid tests have been performed in SC with only 1.8% tested positive for the disease.

Zoo relaxes rules

Riverbanks Zoo guests will no longer need masks nor timed reservations.

Zoo officials said added staff allows a larger capacity and Splash play is back at Waterfall Junction.