COVID-19 ‘hotspot’ restrictions on SC hotel rentals could end soon. Here’s the latest
A coronavirus emergency order banning all South Carolina hotels or short-term rentals from welcoming travelers from “hotspot” areas could be lifted soon as the tourism economy begins to reopen.
Currently, the state does not allow short-term rentals to people from areas defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as coronavirus hotspots and explicitly includes the “tri-state” area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Travelers from those areas also need to self-quarantine for two weeks upon arrival in South Carolina.
Travelers from other states are allowed in South Carolina’s hotels, campground and other short-term rentals even if the CDC strongly encourages you to only travel when necessary.
Over the the past several weeks, Gov. Henry McMaster has lifted restrictions on retail stores, public beach and water access, allowing some businesses to resume. This week Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and Horry County lifted local restrictions that closed hotels.
“The question is now that the CDC removed those travel advisories is it time for us to do the same,” McMaster said in response to a question from The Sun News. “We will be making those decisions very soon.”
Many of these expiring regulations were based on recommendations and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the CDC domestic travel advisories have lifted, according to McMaster and the CDC website.
Public health officials still ask you to limit unnecessary travel in general, but only international travel to most of Europe, China or Iran is specifically called out in current travel warnings.
The governor did not give a specific timeline for when the order could be lifted or clarified. But the matter was a topic of discussion at Wednesday’s AccelerateSC meeting.
The AccelerateSC committee, which was created by McMaster, brings private and public sector leaders together to address the tough economic situation facing the state and how to get the economy rolling.
Explore Charleston CEO Helen Hills said allowing for lodging reservations to continue is an important first step to salvaging the tourism season. Just because people from hot spot areas are making reservations doesn’t mean they are immediately traveling to the state, she added.
“It’s critical we start the process of reservations so people can come enjoy the summer in our beautiful state,” Hills said.
Under normal conditions, Memorial Day Weekend is when the tourism season in Myrtle Beach largely begins. The season really picks up once schools are out. Myrtle Beach’s largest airline, Spirit Airlines, currently does not have any flights coming into Myrtle Beach from New York, New Jersey or Connecticut.
So for now, lodging business leaders have been instructed to do their best to not allow renters from the three banned states.
Two of the largest hotel/condotel operators on the Grand Strand say they are not taking reservations in the short-term from people in the tri-state area because of the governor’s existing order.
Matthew Brittain, CEO of Brittain Resorts & Hotels, which operates 10 hotels and condotels on the Strand, said his company has instructed telephone operators to inform travelers from the area that they can’t accept their reservations, and online reservations are also being similarly vetted.
“We are functioning under the idea that [the order] is still in place, until we get further clarification on that,” Brittain said.
Vacation Myrtle Beach operates 14 Strand hotels and condotels.
“It is a little confusing but our policy is really what the governor’s policy is,” said Vacation Myrtle Beach CEO Matt Klugman. “. . . We have sent the message to folks that it’s just not the right time if they’re in those areas and we’re excited to have them back when things calm down in their areas.”
Across industries, Ted Pitts of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce said business leaders are seeking guidance on what legal liability they have as they reopen. A major concern is the chance for a lawsuit if a customer claims they got the coronavirus from visiting a store.
Specifically, Pitts said he and others are working on a proposal to statehouse leaders that would protect business owners from unnecessary legal liability.
“We need liability protection,” Pitts said. “If we want the economy to get back on track, people have to feel safe from a health perspective but business owners have to feel safe that they’re not going to hit with frivolous lawsuits.”
The Sun News reporter Alan Blondin contributed to this article.
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 10:34 AM.
