News Releases DHEC Presented with Outstanding Community Leader Award for Efforts to Ensure Food Safety at Restaurants during COVID-19 Pandemic FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 22, 2021 COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) recently received the 2021 Outstanding Community Leader Award (Public Sector) for the agency’s innovative work to assist restaurants in promoting food safety throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The award was presented by the South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (SCRLA), a statewide organization focused on promoting and educating foodservice and lodging industries, at its annual Stars of the Hospitality Industry Awards Luncheon. DHEC has a role in overseeing South Carolina Food Laws and Retail Food Establishment Regulations that require safe food handling practices in order to protect the health and safety of restaurant patrons and retail food workers. Over the past several months, DHEC’s Food Safety Program has implemented several innovative approaches to overseeing food safety requirements while also adhering to public health recommendations for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Some of these efforts include: