8/11 UPDATE: Mask mandate questions answered for York, Lancaster, Chester counties.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, more South Carolina municipalities are setting their own rules to require masks or face covering in public.
Gov. Henry McMaster reiterated his position during a July 10 press conference that mask mandate decisions should come at the local and not state level.
“Local authorities — counties, cities and towns — have the authority to pass mask ordinances that are tailor made for their kinds of businesses and the people and clientele,” McMaster said. “They know their businesses and local law enforcement can do that.”
Since, McMaster issued an executive order that does require mask usage in restaurants and state government buildings. For retail and other public places, the issue remains local.
Here is the latest information for cities and towns in York, Lancaster and Chester counties. It also includes information from the counties, which impacts residents and businesses in unincorporated areas.
The information will be updated regularly as municipalities set or modify their mask rules.
Rock Hill
Rock Hill City Council approved a citywide rule July 6 mandating face masks in public. The requirement applies to people in food, service and retail establishments, including grocery stores, pharmacies, salons and barbershops. The rule took effect July 10 and lasts up to 60 days. A violation of the rule will result in a civil infraction and residents could be subject to a $25 to $100 fine.
Masks are required:
▪ inside city facilities
▪ when using or driving public or commercial transportation including the My Ride bus system
▪ inside any retail, service or food service establishment
▪ while working at retail or service establishments while in areas open to the public or within six feed of other staff
▪ while working or delivering to food service establishments, when interacting with customers
Masks are not required:
▪ while exclusively with members of the same household
▪ for children under age 10, though accompanying adults should use reasonable efforts to have children age 2-9 wear masks inside establishments
▪ if outdoors or in outdoor areas of retail establishments
▪ in food service establishments where six feet of separation is observed
▪ if religious beliefs prevent wearing them
▪ when a medical or behavioral condition prevents wearing them
▪ while eating or drinking at a food service establishment
▪ in private, individual offices
▪ in settings where it is not practical or feasible, such as in a gym while exercising, swimming or obtaining services involving the head, face or scalp, such as dental work
Rock Hill police issued a statement just ahead of the new rule taking effect July 10 noting a hope for voluntary compliance. It read:
“The Rock Hill Police Department encourages citizens to adhere to the Face-Covering Ordinance which addresses a Public Health Issue.
“It is not our goal to seek out those who are not wearing a Face Covering, and hope businesses and customers will work together to meet the mandates of the Ordinance.
“In the event we are called by a business for someone not following the Ordinance, Officers will attempt to handle the situation through education and voluntary compliance.
“The officer will respond, educate the violator on the Ordinance, and seek voluntary compliance. We do not want to issue any Civil Infractions, nor do we want to have a situation escalate over noncompliance with the Ordinance.”
Fort Mill
Fort Mill no longer has a town mask requirement, after its initial one expired. Council voted Aug. 10 not to extend the mask rule amid state and other changes that already require face coverings in some places.
Fort Mill Town Council had passed a rule requiring masks July 6. The requirement began July 8. The rule lasted 30 days. It carried a warning for a first infraction, but later ones could cost $25 to $100.
On July 27, a vote to extend the mask rule another 30 days failed. The mask rule expired on Aug. 5.
Masks were required for 30 days in restaurants, salons, barber shops, grocery stores, convenience stores, commercial stores and similar sites. Language in that rule was similar to requirements in Rock Hill, York and other municipalities with mandates.
▪ in food service establishments that sell prepared food on dine-in, delivery, carryout or drive-thru basis
▪ in retail establishments like grocery stores, convenience stores and any other business that sells non-prepared food
▪ in pharmacies, alcoholic beverage stores and laundromats
▪ in outdoor or unenclosed areas of retail establishments
▪ for those who cannot wear a face covering due to a medical or behavioral condition
▪ for patrons of food service establishments while they are dining and/or drinking
▪ when complying with directions of law enforcement officers
▪ while exclusively with members of a family or the same household
Tega Cay
On July 6, Mayor David O’Neal signed a proclamation encouraging Tega Cay residents to wear face coverings. The proclamation isn’t a mandate, as is the case in Rock Hill and Fort Mill.
Masks are encouraged:
▪ for all customer inside retail or food service establishments, except while eating or drinking
▪ while working in retail establishments in areas open to the public or other staff members within six feet of separation
▪ while working in or delivering to food service establishments, for employees who interact with customers
Masks aren’t needed:
▪ in outdoor or unenclosed retail or food service establishments where six feet of distance is observed
▪ where religious beliefs prevent them
▪ where medical or behavioral conditions prevent them
▪ for children under age 12, though adults should use reasonable effort to have children age 2 to 12 wear them inside retail establishments
▪ for food service patrons while dining
▪ in private, individual offices
▪ when complying with direction from law enforcement
▪ where it isn’t feasible like in dental care, while swimming or recreating outdoors
▪ while with members entirely of the same household
York
York City Council finalized a new mask ordinance on July 20, which began July 21. The rule requires masks or face coverings for:
▪ customers inside retail or food service establishments
▪ retail establishment staff in areas open to the public or other staff, or where six feet of social distancing can’t be observed
▪ food service establishment staff who work interact with customers, while working
Face coverings aren’t required:
▪ in outdoor or unenclosed retail or food service establishments when social distancing is observed
▪ when religious beliefs prevent someone from wearing a face covering
▪ when medical or behavioral condition prevents wearing them
▪ for children under age 10
▪ for patrons in food service establishments while dining
▪ in private, individual offices
▪ when complying with direction from law enforcement
▪ when obtaining or rendering goods or services such as dental, or while swimming
▪ while exclusively with members of the same household
The penalty is a $25 civil infraction. Each day of continued violation can be considered a new offense.
Council voted 4-3 on July 13 in favor of an emergency ordinance to require face coverings in retail stores and restaurants. Because an emergency ordinance requires two-thirds approval, the motion failed. Council then passed first reading on essentially the same rule, then members can approved it July 20 by non-emergency means.
Council debated a mask ordinance July 7. By a 4-3 vote council decided to draft a mask requirement.
Clover
Clover Town Council voted down a face mask ordinance on July 13. Council did vote to urge town residents to wear masks.
Anyone coming into Town Hall, Clover Community Center or Gallery 120 in Clover must wear a mask, according to the town website.
Mayor Greg Holmes said July 7 a mask requirement due to the coronavirus pandemic would be on that July 13 agenda and he supports it. The 6:30 p.m. meeting July 13 was held at the community center and is open to the public.
The vote on a mask mandate failed 2-5 on July 13.
Lancaster
Lancaster City Council called a special meeting June 30 that included a resolution “strongly encouraging all residents to perform their patriotic duty” by wearing masks in public, and calling for Gov. Henry McMaster to issue a statewide mask requirement.
That resolution encouraged all employees, customers, patrons, residents and visitors to Lancaster to wear face coverings while indoors at places of business, while riding in a vehicle with people from outside the household and in outdoor public areas. It asked operators of businesses and public places to post signs urging face coverings.
Chester
A mask ordinance in Chester began July 7. Chester City Council passed the rule June 29 that could have penalties up to $500 and 30 days in jail.
The new rule applies to indoor public places like restaurants, barber shops and grocery stores. Religious establishments are exempt.
Public establishment as well as public and commercial transportation employees have to wear face coverings. They are required outdoors when it isn’t possible to keep at least six feet of distance from other people.
Children age 2 and younger don’t have to wear masks, nor does anyone who can’t for a medical, mental health or developmental reason, or anyone unable to remove a mask on his or her own.
York County
York County voted down a mask mandate July 20. Council instead voted to encourage residents to wear masks. The decision came after a public comment period where residents largely spoke against a mask requirement.
On June 29 the county released statements from York County Council Chairman Michael Johnson and York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson asking county residents to wear face coverings voluntarily.
The county leaders asked the public to follow state and federal health guidelines and to wear masks when out in public settings, when with people from outside the household and whenever six feet of social distancing is difficult to maintain.
Councilman William “Bump” Roddey has called for the county to take a further step and bring a mandate up for debate. Only two of seven council members voted in favor of the emergency ordinance July 20 to require masks.
A York County decision would include pockets of county residents who aren’t in municipal limits. So Rock Hill or Fort Mill residents, for instances, would follow those municipal rules. A countywide mandate would apply to unincorporated areas from the high population Lake Wylie, Baxter and Carowinds areas to the more rural parts of the county.
Lancaster County
Prior to entering the administration building in Lancaster County, people are required to wear masks. Masks are encouraged for anyone attending county public meetings. Face masks are required for visitors to the animal shelter.
Lancaster County Council last met June 22. The next scheduled meeting comes July 20.
Even more so than York County, Lancaster County has its highest concentration of residents living in an unincorporated area, with Indian Land. Residents and businesses there would fall under county mandate or recommendation, rather than any municipal one.
Chester County
Chester County restricted public access to most government buildings during the coronavirus pandemic. The county clerk of court office is now reopened with social distancing and masks encouraged.
Chester County Council met July 6. The group next meets July 20.
High school sports in Chester, Lancaster and York counties
As of Wednesday, July 8, every high school football program in Chester, Lancaster and York counties are still running summer workouts, The Herald confirmed. The workouts continue amid rising coronavirus cases across the state and suspensions of summer workout plans from other school districts across South Carolina, including in the Columbia area.
Here’s the most up-to-date information about high school sports and coronavirus:
- Fall sports seasons in doubt with COVID-19 trends, S.C. High School League leader says
The SCHSL’s published COVID-19 safety measures are now “requirements,” and schools are subject to penalties if they don’t follow them. This explained, and more, here.
Gov. McMaster weighed in on the football discussion earlier this month.
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 1:21 PM.
