Governor McMaster

McMaster Lifts 50% Occupancy Limit and Other COVID Restrictions

A new executive order issued by Governor Henry McMaster has lifted many COVID-19 restrictions. Most notably, restaurants are now able to operate at full capacity.

On the decision to open up the state, Governor McMaster said, “South Carolina is open for business. Our state’s approach has been a measured, deliberate, and targeted one – aimed at keeping our economy open and our people safe.”

While not required, there are a variety of strongly recommended safety measures that restaurants should abide by in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. Some of these safety measures include spacing tables and customers six feet apart and limiting the seating at tables to no more than eight people. In addition, officials recommend staff and patrons continue to wear masks when possible.

Even though restaurants can operate at full capacity, the “last call order” requiring the sale and/or consumption of alcohol to halt at 11:00 pm is still in effect.

News

SC Applies For Lost Wages Assistance Grant

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, recovery efforts to salvage the economic destruction are being made. The SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), alongside Governor McMaster, plans to apply for the FEMA’s Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program. The grant will await federal approval.

“Our state should be proud of the economic recovery efforts and the progress we have made to date, but we know that some of our citizens are still struggling in the wake of this pandemic,” explains McMaster. “We’ve chosen to participate in this program in a way that will provide additional unemployment relief from the federal government while maintaining our strong record of fiscal responsibility and protecting the interests of South Carolinians.”

Gov. McMaster authorized DEW to apply toward the federal aid via a letter. The grant itself was originally made by President Donald Trump as a means of compensating those unemployed due to the ongoing pandemic. When a state’s application is accepted, an additional weekly $300 in benefits per person will be added.

“We know there are citizens who are still in great need,” explains DEW Executive Director Dan Ellzey. “DEW has been testing changes in its benefits portal based upon guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. If South Carolina is approved, we will work as quickly as possible with our vendor to get the application into the system.”

News

McMaster’s SAFE Grants Have Been Temporarily Blocked

On Wednesday last week, an Orangeburg County circuit court judge signed a restraining order, temporarily blocking Gov. Henry McMaster’s SAFE Grants. The stipend was originally in place in order to subsidize private and parochial school tuition for lower-income students. Now, it’s unsure as of when those will return.

McMaster’s SAFE Grant stands for Safe Access to Flexible Education. With $32 Million allocated toward funding the program, qualifying households can receive up to $6,500 on an as-needed basis. Though, the circuit court judge claims the grant program is in violation of the South Carolina Constitution.

“These funds could be better used by ensuring our public schools have as many resources as possible to ensure a safe return to in-person instruction when public health conditions make it possible to do so,” a member of the Palmetto State Teachers Association stated on the topic.

With Coronavirus impacting this coming school year, it’s no secret that educators need all the help they can get in these difficult times. As of now, the grant remains temporarily blocked, just weeks before the academic calendar is set to begin.

News

McMaster Pushes To Re-open Schools This Fall

On Wednesday, July 15th, Gov. Henry McMaster joined by his fellow Republican House and Senate leaders executively decided that SC schools will re-open for in-person teaching. This press statement comes as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the state. The district schools are being pushed to re-open with the option to choose between virtual learning and face-to-face learning.

McMaster says that “the classroom is one of the safest places to be,” in response to fear over Coronavirus. These plans are being made as the state believes that virtual education is not enough. Each district ultimately can decide a plan for themselves, yet now there must be an option that includes sending kids to school five days a week. As of 2019, SC schools remain #48 in state education across the country. It’s likely that the recent changes in schooling could impact the education kids receive. “What we need to do is take every step at our disposal to get kids back to schools,” McMaster said.

With this push to re-open comes a push for start dates to be halted. McMaster asks that schools consider beginning classes after September 8th, in addition to creating options for online and in-person learning.

There has been no official statement from SC school boards regarding final decisions for the upcoming fall semester. In the next few weeks, it’s possible we will see districts announcing plans that rotate between in-person and online classes.

News

South Carolina Announces More Restrictions as COVID-19 Cases Rise

The SC case count for Coronavirus skyrockets to over 62,245 as of mid-July. In response to the large number of residents contracting the virus, the state announces more restrictions. Gov. Henry McMaster says, “We know that young adults who are rapidly contracting the virus and spreading it into our communities frequently congregate in late-night atmospheres which simply are not conducive to stopping its continued transmission.”

This late-night curfew on the sale of alcohol is to be implemented immediately. Restaurants and bars will no longer be allowed to converge past 11 p.m. This order omits alcohol sold at convenience or grocery stores. It’s merely a precaution meant to stop young people from spreading the disease at drinking establishments. As the disease weaves through the younger generation, it’s difficult to enforce social distancing. Because many adolescents do not show symptoms of the virus, this makes transmission much more likely.

As well as the late-night curfew, McMaster rolled out limited visitation to nursing homes on July 2nd. This came as a safety precaution toward an at-risk age group, and in order to protect front line healthcare workers, McMaster tells in a tweet. These restrictions are to be enforced until further notice.

Eat & Drink

South Carolina Cities Mandate Masks

To mask or not to mask, is no longer the question. This month, several SC cities are pushing to mandate that all citizens need to wear face protection in public.

The Charleston City Council approved a face mask ordinance which began being enforced on July 1st. The ruling mandates that all citizens must wear face mask protection when entering any retail or restaurant establishment. This movement caters in an attempt to keep businesses open.

Greenville Online shared a sign posted at the door of a CVS Pharmacy on Main Street. “Face masks are required by law. When you wear a face mask, even ones made from cloth or common household items and materials, you promote your own safety and that of our colleagues and other customers,” the sign read. The response to these changes has been both negative and positive.

With 30,263 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide, SC has officially become a hotspot this summer. Some say these cases came as a response to establishments re-opening too quickly.

“The state cannot mandate everyone to wear a mask,” says Governor Henry McMaster on the issue. “It is ineffective, impractical, and unenforceable to have a statewide mandatory mask requirement.” McMaster did plead for citizens to start wearing masks. As of now, there are no further plans to lift restrictions on establishments that facilitate large crowds.

With cases still rising, we haven’t heard the last of the mask debate. But, it is difficult to say whether or not we will see any permanent legislative changes regarding the wearing of a mask.

News

Gov. McMaster Announces Restaurant Saftey Initiative

Governor Henry McMaster announced a restaurant safety initiative known as the Palmetto Priority Pledge last Tuesday. During a Livestream on Facebook, McMaster broke down the details of what this means for restaurants in SC.

“Palmetto Priority is a formal commitment made by South Carolina restaurateurs to provide a clean and safe environment for their staff and customers to demonstrate real precautions that they are taking to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” the official website states.

At a glance, this agreement is to be signed by restaurants that pledge to commit to the necessary safety requirements. It’s to include sanitation guidelines, reopening instructions, and participation in several online education modules. If a restaurant completes these actions, they join the master list of safe establishments. Community members can view the directory and for a comprehensive list of which establishments are following the necessary protocol.

In an attempt to keep SC safe, this pledge is a means of spreading safety and information. Next time you decide to dine out, visit Palmetto Priority to assure that your safety is being made a priority.

News

Coronavirus Cases Skyrocket in SC

With the rush to reopen SC businesses, a peak in coronavirus cases has come in response. Many other states are seeing a flattening of cases during the early weeks of summer, but SC is reporting differently. The short 6-weeks of quarantine are likely the reason for this spike.

In a recent press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell says “That today [she] is more concerned about COVID-19 in South Carolina than ever been before.” Her unease relates to the rising daily numbers since the beginning of the pandemic. Over 600 deaths have been reported in SC from coronavirus since it entered the U.S.

Will this information have an effect on businesses? If it were up to Governor Henry McMaster, things would remain likely the same. “We can’t stay closed forever,” says McMaster, though he urges residents to practice social responsibility. It seems staying healthy will likely be put on the shoulders of individuals.

For daily reporting of coronavirus numbers, visit Events as they happen on the World Health Organization site.