South Carolina Governor: Police to disperse crowds on beaches
South Carolina’s governor has ordered police to disperse large crowds at state beaches during the state of emergency due to coronavirus.
Both Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head have seen large crowds gather on beaches in recent days despite pleas for social distancing.
“A state of emergency exists in South Carolina to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. To save lives, I have directed SLED and local law enforcement to disperse crowds gathered on our state’s beaches,” Gov. Henry McMaster wrote in a Friday tweet.
More than 80 people have tested positive for Coronavirus in South Carolina as of Friday morning. There are more than 15,000 cases across the country.
In Myrtle Beach, dozens of college students gathered in the sand in close proximity on Thursday to enjoy the warm weather and spring break. In Hilton Head, the beaches and recreation facilities remained busy.
McMaster stopped short of ordering beaches closed, stating that people can responsibly keep a safe distance while enjoying the beachfront.
Officials in Hilton Head ordered the closure of their beaches. Myrtle Beach has yet to declare its beaches are closed. Before the announcement, police in both communities said would increasing their presence along the beachfront.
This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 2:44 PM.
