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District 79 Rep. Keith Kidwell announced in a recent Facebook post that he is back home after being hospitalized with COVID-19. Kidwell’s wife Vicki was still hospitalized for the same reason at the time of the post.

“Viki Kidwell is improving and may be home in a few days,” Keith Kidwell wrote. “Thanks for all the prayers. Thank you to the great staff at Vidant Beaufort. Please continue to pray for my wife.”

The Associated Press reported that Viki returned home Tuesday.

Kidwell posted last Tuesday that his wife was hospitalized with COVID-19. His own symptoms of COVID-19 became publicly known when Rep. Larry Pittman last Thursday read a message from Kidwell on the House floor: “My fever seems to have gone. Just walking to the bathroom is exhausting.”

Attempts to reach Kidwell’s office Tuesday for an update on his condition were unsuccessful.

Last Friday night, a small crowd gathered outside of Beaufort Vidant hospital for a prayer vigil, where the Kidwells were admitted.  Carolyn Garris, chair of the Republican Party of Beaufort County, organized the vigil. The group prayed for the Kidwells and all of the other patients being treated for COVID-19.

Keith Kidwell has been against wearing masks during the COVID-19. He has also worked to prevent vaccine mandates. Kidwell introduced House Bill 572, which would prevent the governor or any state agency from enacting a vaccine mandate. That bill is still in the Senate. Kidwell is also one 55 House Republicans who signed a letter addressed to CEOs of the state’s major hospital systems, asking them to reevaluate their decision to require COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of employment.