Grand Strand communities put people first by requiring face masks amid COVID-19 spike

Late in the coronavirus catastrophe, municipal governments are acting to require protective face coverings in all retail, service and food establishments.

Both Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach have approved such face mask ordinances, and other local governments — including the Horry County Council — will likely soon issue requirements instead of guidelines.

It’s about time.

North Myrtle Beach Mayor Marilyn Hatley said one reason her community is implementing a face mask requirement is because many residents and visitors have not followed public health guidelines about face coverings and social distancing — the common-sense protections advised early on in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Let’s not ignore one elephant in the room.

President Donald Trump has refused to wear masks in public and no doubt his attitude and off-the-wall comments about the coronavirus have had an impact on people here and across the country.

But in recent days even Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have made positive comments about wearing masks, and a change in presidential attitude may be helpful in turning the tide on COVID-19.

Personal responsibility

Still, the reality is the dumbfounding anti-mask attitude goes beyond Trump or any one individual. It is heavily driven by an anti-government attitude that is perhaps related to loss of jobs and income — as well as fears about a potential loss of individual freedoms.

But Hatley has rightly pointed out that it’s time for another factor to override these various fears: personal responsibility.

“There is a responsibility for all of us to look out for the health and safety of our community,” Hatley said, adding that since the early weeks of the crisis, leaders have urged Grand Strand residents to be responsible and wear protective face coverings while practicing social distancing.

It has been the right advice to give, because the facts about COVID-19 include rising rates in Horry County, South Carolina and three dozen other states.

Meanwhile, folks from West Virginia and other states have vacationed here and returned home with COVID-19. Did the tourists from West Virginia wear face masks while they enjoyed our beaches?

We imagine not.

Wear a mask

University of Washington scientists have widely used models, based on public health data, that forecast the number of cases and deaths. South Carolina had 1,741 news cases on June 30, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control; the UW model projects the number to be about 720 new daily cases on Aug. 1.

But if 95% of South Carolinians were regularly wearing face masks in public places, according to the projections, that Aug. 1 number would drop to 175. Yes, it might be unrealistic to expect 95% of South Carolinians to wear face masks — but the mere prospect of reducing daily cases from 720 to 175 should be enough motivation to do so.

Gov. Henry McMaster has been more decisive than some other Southern governors in anti-coronavirus measures. He has worn masks, and he has forcefully promoted the use of masks. But McMaster has not issued an order requiring face masks, and the obvious question is this: Why not?

The governor claims that a state order would be unenforceable. But look at New York, where people have been willingly adhering to a face mask requirement that has led to a decline in new COVID-19 cases. Enforcement does not require a heavy-handed approach — and if many people see others wearing masks, they will be more likely to drop their reluctance to wear one.

But until McMaster does take the step of implementing a statewide requirement to wear face masks, it will be left to municipal and county governments to play catch-up by acting on their own.

North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach and other local governments are right to do just that, and to send a message to residents that should be relayed all across the state:

Wear a mask.

This story was originally published July 3, 2020 at 8:08 AM.