Myrtle Beach could vote on face mask policy ahead of July 4 as COVID-19 cases spike
Myrtle Beach residents and tourists could soon be required to wear a face mask as officials say a vote will be taken on the matter next week prior to the July 4 holiday weekend.
In a joint statement, Myrtle Beach City Manager John Pedersen and Mayor Brenda Bethune said City Council members will meet Thursday to take action on a possible mask policy. The meeting, which was originally scheduled to be a workshop, will be designated as a special meeting to allow council to take a formal vote, Pedersen said.
Council is unable to vote during meetings labeled workshops.
“We anticipate that a vote will be taken, but not on an ordinance that requires two readings,” the statement read. “Instead, we anticipate Council will vote on an action that can be implemented immediately.”
Pedersen alluded the vote, if passed, would likely grant him the authority to issue an executive order. If that’s the case, the order would immediately go into effect, though Pedersen did not elaborate on any potential details.
With the city under a State of Emergency declaration, city officials have the authority to call a meeting sooner with cases being reported in the triple digits in recent weeks. However, officials said the meeting is already scheduled for Thursday and don’t see any reason to move up the date or time.
As of Thursday, Horry County has 2,495 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 42 deaths, according to S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Though, since the start of June, 2,079 cases have been diagnosed. Prior to the area hosting its first testing event on May 30, Horry County had only recorded 426 coronavirus cases since the first case was reported on March 15.
This week alone, Horry County has already reported 566 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Additionally, several counties in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky are reporting more than 75 coronavirus cases in residents after trips to Myrtle Beach.
Officials are anticipating thousands of tourists to pile into the city for the annual holiday weekend.
A study by the Coastal Carolina University Clay Brittain Jr. Center for Resort Tourism noted that nearly 98 percent of vacation rental properties in Horry County are already booked. As of Thursday, the level of reservations for all rentals beginning in July are above the final level of reservations for the equivalent periods last year, the study notes.
With the rise in cases, three South Carolina cities — Greenville, Columbia and Charleston — have chosen to enforce ordinances requiring masks be worn — a step S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster hasn’t taken, despite expressing dismay with the recent case boom and dismissing health officials’ recommendations.
Overall, South Carolina has 28,962 COVID-19 cases and 691 deaths, as of Thursday, according to DHEC.
Currently, Horry County Council has not formally considered a mask mandate in the unincorporated areas. As area leaders have discussed policies, North Myrtle Beach City Council is scheduled to go into executive session during their meeting on Monday to receive a legal briefing about a potential ordinance regarding wearing face coverings.
On Wednesday, South Carolina’s attorney general Alan Wilson said that cities can require residents to wear face masks while out in public. While in some instances actions by a local government can be preempted by the state, South Carolina currently has no statewide rule on face coverings that would overrule local efforts to require residents to wear a mask, Wilson said.
“Our state constitution and state laws have given cities the authority to pass these types of ordinances under the doctrine of Home Rule,” Wilson said in a statement. “The basic premise behind the Home Rule doctrine is to empower local governments (ie: towns, cities and counties) to effectively govern themselves without interference from state government.”
Over in Surfside Beach, Mayor Bob Hellyer acknowledged the concerning rise in cases during Tuesday’s Town Council meeting but noted no measures would be implemented to require the use of face masks.
“Everybody has the ability to wear a mask and everybody knows they should wear a mask if they feel compromised,” Hellyer said. “If you go someplace where people aren’t wearing a mask and you wear a mask, you probably shouldn’t go there.”
In Horry County, where tourism has been in full swing since May 15, about 5 to 10 percent of residents and tourists practice those health guidelines. Local officials up to this point have only encouraged face masks be worn.
This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 11:21 AM.
