Surfside Beach ‘strongly encourages’ masks, but council stops short of requiring them
Surfside Beach will not require its residents and tourists to wear face masks as COVID-19 cases surge in Horry County, with officials citing that people have a right to their own personal freedom of choice.
The Town Council met in a special meeting Tuesday, where the members opted against imposing a face mask ordinance. The decision comes after several Horry County communities, including Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Conway, passed ordinances requiring face masks and coverings be worn in public places.
The town instead approved a resolution that “strongly encourages” residents, tourists, patrons and employees to wear masks or coverings and social distance in public places, such as retail and food establishments. Officials agreed that if there is non-compliance with the proclamation, they’ll consider making it a mandatory ordinance.
Councilwoman Cindy Keating, who strongly opposed a mask mandate, originally issued a motion the city not implement a mask ordinance but was met with silence. While noting she’s not opposed to wearing masks, she said laws of this kind are not enforceable, citing other municipal ordinances as “too specialized.”
“The COVID virus is out there and every individual needs to take measures to protect themselves to be considerate of others,” Keating said. “I just feel that the mandates being selective are not appropriate, the fact that they’re not enforceable is not appropriate, and for every expert that says masks are effective, there’s a handful that says they’re not.”
Council members Michael Drake, David Pellegrino and Bruce Dietrich were not in attendance.
While the town went in a different direction from neighboring communities, Mayor Bob Hellyer said a mask mandate is what the community wanted, citing about two dozen emails from residents requesting it. Despite the urge, council members felt placing too many restrictions on masks would confuse both residents and visitors.
Councilman Paul Holder added that he wants vacationers to visit the area and have a good time, not get ticketed for failing to wear a mask. Police Chief Kenneth Hofmann agreed enforcement would be difficult but would do it if mandated.
“I am not an advocate about putting restrictions on individuals and constitutional rights, but I am a firm believer in protecting people who do not have the ability to protect themselves,” Hellyer said. “I am pushed on both sides of the issue.”
Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Georgetown and Horry County had previously implemented face mask mandates as COVID-19 cases spike in local areas. Atlantic Beach and Conway both approved mask ordinances Monday night.
Cases of the coronavirus grew by 130 as of Tuesday afternoon in Horry County, health officials announced.
The number of cases in Horry County has reached 4,845 since mid-March, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. There have been 55 coronavirus-related deaths in Horry County.
In early June, DHEC designated Horry County a coronavirus hot spot, with numbers increasing by triple-digits daily since. Just last week, health officials announced 1,525 new positive cases of the coronavirus in Horry County.
COVID-19 cases in South Carolina are at 47,214, with 838 COVID-19 deaths, according to DHEC.
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 2:55 PM.
