You may soon be able to visit loved ones living in assisted living facilities.

Gov. Henry McMaster Friday requested that the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DH-EC) issue guidelines for inperson visitation with residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

“Restricting visitation to our state’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities in March was a heartbreaking necessity,” McMaster said.

“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.”

“We are committed to protecting the physical, mental and emotional health of our elderly and at-risk people – and their loved ones,” the governor said.

“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.”

On March 13, McMaster directed DHEC to restrict visitation to nursing homes and assisted living facilities, with the exception of end-of-life situations, as DHEC deemed necessary and appropriate.

In June, the governor directed DHEC to develop guidelines to allow for or facilitate limited visitation in these facilities. Those plans were delayed due to concerns about the rising rate of infection and hospitalization.