Could Myrtle Beach government require face masks in public? ‘We certainly can,’ mayor says
Myrtle Beach could soon require residents and tourists to wear face masks as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in Horry County.
While City Council has not discussed any official measures, Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune said she asked City Attorney William Bryan for his opinion in the event officials want to craft an ordinance that would require people to wear face masks. Currently, the city only encourages masks be worn.
Horry County was labeled a coroanvirus hot spot about two weeks ago by S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Since June 1, the county has reported over 1,600 confirmed coronavirus cases.
“Council has not yet discussed such a mandate,” Bethune said. “I did ask our attorney for his opinion on the matter, and he feels that if we choose to issue such an order, we certainly can.”
Bethune’s questioning comes on the heels of Greenville City Council approving an emergency ordinance requiring people to wear masks inside groceries and pharmacies within city limits where face-to-face interactions occur. Greenville officials met on Monday to take a vote.
In Greenville, all employees inside grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, salons, retail establishments and other businesses will be required to wear a mask starting Tuesday at noon. People who fail to comply will face a fine of $25, while businesses could be fined up to $100.
Currently, Horry County has more than 2,000 total coronavirus cases since the pandemic started in mid-March.
The Myrtle Beach area saw 123 new cases on Monday, bringing the county’s total to 2,054, according to the latest figures from DHEC. The have been 39 deaths in Horry County from COVID-19.
Across South Carolina the total number of cases have jumped to 25,666. There have been 659 deaths statewide.
On Monday, it was reported that more than a dozen high school students in an Ohio county have tested positive for coronavirus after a trip to Myrtle Beach, officials said.
About 90 students from Belmont County, Ohio, and neighboring West Virginia, recently visited the Grand Strand, said Robert Sproul, deputy health commissioner with the Belmont County Health Department. To date, 14 students have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Belmont County outbreak is the latest surge in coronavirus cases seen in some states after trips to Myrtle Beach. Some people on social media have questioned whether the Grand Strand is safe with the increase in cases. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice warned his state about travels to the Myrtle Beach area.
In Preston County, West Virginia, there have been 26 positive coronavirus cases traced back to trips to Myrtle Beach. The county had fewer than 20 cases before the most recent outbreak. At least five West Virginia counties have tied COVID-19 cases to Myrtle Beach vacations.
“I would think twice before I did that, West Virginia, right now because they got a real problem going on,” Justice said at a Friday news conference.
This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 4:03 PM.
