‘This is not the time to stop our efforts’: Myrtle Beach to renew face mask order
Cases of COVID-19 are on a downward trend after Horry County saw a significant spike over the summer but Myrtle Beach officials want to ensure it stays that way.
With the city’s mask mandate set to expire on Sept. 9, City Manager John Pedersen said he intends to reissue his executive order mandating face masks or coverings continue to be worn in public places and retail establishments, including groceries, pharmacies and restaurants. The order has been in effect since July 2.
“This is not the time to stop our efforts,” Pedersen said during City Council’s workshop meeting Thursday morning.
Pedersen said the area saw less tourists in August, which may have contributed to the virus spread slowing. He added establishments within the city have been proactive in enforcing the mandate.
Both Horry County, North Myrtle Beach and Conway also renewed their mask orders. Though, Horry County County Council intends to meet on Sept. 15 to discuss a path forward for the order. Surfside Beach doesn’t have a mask policy.
Myrtle Beach’s policy calls for face masks to be worn in all retail businesses or establishments that are open to the public. These include grocery stores, pharmacies, liquor stores, laundromats, barbershops and hair salons, gyms and fitness facilities, amusements, and professional service buildings, such as real estate offices, accounting firms and attorney offices.
Additionally, the order will apply to commercial retail establishments, including sporting goods, beachwear, furniture and home-furnishing stores. Floral shops, department stores, clothing, shoe, jewelry, luggage, hardware and home-improvement, book, craft and music stores are also included.
Furthermore, the order states that all customers and staff are required to wear face coverings while inside an enclosed area of any retail, food or hotel establishment, when interacting with the public or staff, and when social distancing isn’t feasible. All customers frequenting indoor common areas in any overnight accommodations will also be required to wear a face covering.
The order does not affect the beaches.
Face coverings can include, but are not limited to, bandanas, medical masks, cloth masks, scarves, and gaiters, provided it securely covers the person’s nose and mouth. While businesses will be responsible for employees wearing face masks, no establishment is allowed to force any customers, visitors or other members of the public to wear coverings.
Exemptions to the order include: personal vehicles, when a person is alone in an enclosed space, during outdoor or indoor physical activity in which the active person maintains a minimum of six feet; on a public beach provided there is a six-foot distance from others, and in outdoor or unenclosed retail, food or accommodations areas in which social distancing of at least 6 feet is possible and observed.
The policy will also exempt pedestrians walking with a group of no more than 10 family members or friends who are maintaining the appropriate distance from others, patrons while dining at a restaurant, those whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face mask, in settings where it is not practical or feasible to wear a mask, in private offices, and while exclusively with members of a family or the same household.
Other exemptions include those who cannot remove a face covering without the assistance of others and first-responders when not engaged in a public safety matter of an emergency nature.
Additionally, the order will exempt children under 10, provided that adults accompanying children age 4-9 use reasonable efforts to cause those children to wear face coverings while inside the enclosed area of any retail or food establishment, according to the mandate.
Those who violate the order will be guilty of a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of not more than $100. Each day the violation continues will be considered a separate offense, according to the order. A business that violates the order could have its business license or occupancy permit suspended or revoked.
According to the order, an establishment that further fails to require employees to wear face coverings will be declared a public nuisance, which may be abated by the city by restraining order, preliminary and permanent injunction, or other lawful means.
