For 5 hours we counted how many people wore masks in Myrtle Beach. Here are the results.
The vast majority of people out and about in the Myrtle Beach area do not wear masks.
At least that is what we found as we counted masks for five hours on Wednesday afternoon at various Horry County locations.
The count happened as South Carolina health officials and Gov. Henry McMaster implored residents to wear masks to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Despite the request, both tourists and residential areas across the Grand Strand showed little evidence of mass mask-wearing.
“We all have to practice that social responsibility not becoming infected and not infecting others,” Gov. Henry McMaster said at a Wednesday news conference to address the spike in cases in South Carolina. “Whether it’s about wearing mask, wearing shields, keeping the social distance, staying out of confined places, avoiding crowds, it’s just a question of being respectful of your fellow citizens.
“That is the only way we are going to stop this virus short of a vaccine.”
The state has seen more than 16,000 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started in mid-March. It has seen a dramatic uptick in recent weeks as the state allowed retail, hotels and attractions to open. The state has also increased testing.
Horry County now has 803 positive coronavirus cases since the pandemic started. State health leaders have called Horry County a “hot spot” for the spread of the virus.
The Myrtle Beach area had 454 cases on June 1.
The count
We admit there is no perfect way to count the number of people wearing masks in open areas and stores across the area. People don’t stand still and it’s impossible to make sure everyone in a large area has been counted.
Still, by walking through stores and counting those who wear, or don’t wear masks, it provides a barometer of the overall rate.
The counts also happened on a one day, and simply choosing a different time frame could have yielded different results. But, our count at various locations and time across town found similar patterns. Most places saw less than 20 percent of people wearing masks. The tourists areas of Myrtle Beach saw an even lower percentage.
Here is what we found:
Ocean Boulevard from 14th Avenue North to 9th Avenue North and the Boardwalk around 1 p.m.
There were 516 people who did not wear masks, compared to eight who did.
A few workers at stores and attractions along Ocean Boulevard wore masks, but many did not. There was virtually no social distancing between groups as they walked along the sidewalks and Boardwalk.
Tanger Outlets in North Myrtle Beach around 1:30 p.m.
There were 238 people who did not wear masks, compared to 16 who did.
There was little social distancing by the crowd as it wondered from store to store. But, a few outlets kept patrons outside as they were at capacity inside. Crocs, Adidas, Simply Southern and a few others had lines where the patrons waited to enter and there was six feet between those outside the stores.
Bass Pro Shop at Myrtle Beach Mall around 1:45 p.m.
There were 116 people who did not wear masks, compared to 19 who did.
Many people walked the aisles, including employees, without masks.
Home Depot in North Myrtle Beach around 2:10 p.m.
There were 71 people who did not wear masks, compared to 19 who did.
As people walked the large aisles, there was little social distancing and few masks being worn by patrons.
Vereen Memorial Gardens in Little River around 2:30 p.m.
There were 19 people who did not wear masks, and nobody wearing a mask.
While there were no masks wearers in the park, all 19 people were at least six feet from others along the trails.
Food Lion in Longs around 3 p.m.
There were 11 people who did not wear masks, compared to 14 who did.
One of two spots we found with a majority of people wearing masks. Social distancing was hard in the small grocery store, but most had their faces covered.
CVS in Loris around 3:30 p.m.
There were eight people who did not wear masks and eight people who did.
The store was 50/50 in its split and several women who packed the makeup aisle wore masks.
KJ’s Market IGA in Aynor around 4 p.m.
There were 13 people who did not wear masks, compared to one who did.
Several employees had masks, but they were being worn below the neck and not covering the mouth or nose.
Warmart on Church Street in Conway around 4:30 p.m.
There were 151 people who did not wear masks, compared to 84 who did.
The store saw a better percentage than most. The count came as McMaster held a news conference urging people to wear a mask to slow COVID-19’s spread.
Lowe’s on Highway 501 outside of Conway around 5 p.m.
There were 84 people who did not wear masks, compared to 22 who did.
The rate and scene that was similar to the North Myrtle Beach Home Depot found earlier in the day.
Publix grocery store in Carolina Forest around 5:30 p.m.
There were 46 people who did not wear masks, compared to 16 who did.
Only a handful of customers wore masks inside the store as the after-work crowd filled the aisles.
Costco near Coastal Grand Mall around 5:50 p.m.
There were seven people who did not wear masks, compared to 120 who did.
The bulk warehouse requires customers to wear masks when they enter and most kept them on while inside. Some customers in the back portion of the store removed their masks as they shopped in the frozen food section.
PetSmart near Coastal Grand Mall around 6 p.m.
There were 21 people who did not wear masks, compared to five who did.
Few people in the pet supply store wore masks. That included the dozen people in a long line at one register standing no more than a foot apart.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 1:38 PM.
