No social distancing, masks. Bike rally draws ire on social media, but little from police.
As hundreds of bikers celebrated last weekend in Horry County, there was little evidence of social distancing, mask-wearing or enforcement of laws designed to slow the spread of coronavirus.
The Myrtle Beach area played host to Harley Week last week after the traditional May rally was moved because of COVID-19. The weekend’s event was less attended than other rallies, but hundreds still rode their motorcycles to the Grand Strand and celebrated at event hubs.
One of those was Suck Bang Blow in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. The Horry County bar is home to many bike week activities and concerts.
While concerts are outlawed by executive order, musicians still performed for the crowd with little distancing between patrons. Officials from Suck Bang Blow did not respond to a request for comment for this report.
The event, which was allowed to continue uninterrupted by police or enforcement agencies, drew the ire of social media commentators and at least one politician. Health officials have pleaded with people to avoid large crowds and to wear a mask in places where social distancing isn’t possible. That mostly didn’t happen.
Despite the plea, photos from the rally show a typical event — with little regard to the pandemic and spike of cases in the Myrtle Beach area.
Police respond
State and local leaders passed several laws to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in South Carolina, including a state of emergency order. Part of that decree makes it illegal for three or more people to gather outside of the home.
Gov. Henry McMaster said at a March 23 press conference that law was not intended to apply to businesses conducting lawful operations.
“We know it when we see it,” McMaster said then.
His office did not respond to questions about their reaction to the gathering at Suck Bang Blow. The most recent state of emergency proclamation was signed July 11 and remains in effect until Sunday.
Despite the state of emergency, Horry County police spokeswoman Mikayla Moskov said there is no current mandate that requires social distancing.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division spokesman Tommy Crosby said the agency would investigate after several reports of Myrtle Beach area businesses in violation of the governor’s order. He did not specify whether Suck Bang Blow is one of the businesses.
“As SLED investigates these matters, we want to take the opportunity to urge each business owner and patron across our state to take the recommendations by health officials seriously. It is important we all work together to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Crosby stated.
Horry County also has a mask ordinance that requires customers inside retail businesses and personal service stores — such as barbershops — to wear a mask. Employees at all restaurants and retail establishments are required to wear a mask.
However, there is no provision in the code for patrons of a restaurant or bar to wear a mask. Moskov noted that those approached by officers over the weekend were found in compliance with the ordinance.
Horry County police issued no citations at Suck Bang Blow over the weekend, Moskov said.
A Sun News photographer at the bar noted many of the women serving drinks did not wear masks, but several Suck Bang Blow employees had masks. Few customers wore face coverings while on the property.
State law also requires non-essential designated businesses to remain close. Those businesses include entertainment places such as night clubs, concert venues and performing arts centers. Bars are allowed to be open — but are prohibited from serving alcohol after 11 p.m., per the governor’s most recent executive order.
The establishment calls itself a biker bar on its webpage.
Suck Bang Blow is not listed as receiving a change in its designation, according to Department of Commerce. Businesses deemed non-essential could ask the department to change its status.
Social media furor
Social media has been filled with comments about the rally, with many concerned about the rally in the middle of a spike in Horry County cases.
There have been more than 6,700 confirmed cases in Horry County since the pandemic started in mid-March. More than 6,000 of the cases were reported in the last two months.
State Sen. Dick Harpootlian D-20, which covers Richland and Lexington counties, sent a letter to ask McMaster for a more strict response to regulations in place. He noted the pictures shared on social media from Suck Bang Blow (though he said it was Georgetown County, when its in Horry County).
“If there were 300 people in attendance (for example), our 20 percent positive statewide average on COVID-19 testing suggests approximately 60 of those in attendance were carrying the virus,” Harpootlian wrote.
“Those they had contact with went home, perhaps to the next town over, with a chance of spreading it to family, friends, and coworkers.”
This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 11:05 AM.
