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What’s Open (And What’s Not) in South Carolina Right Now

Now that Gov. Henry McMasters has lifted and altered certain features of his declared state of emergency, it can be difficult to keep straight what exactly is open. Many of the businesses that are closed would go against social distancing ordinances, which are still in place to protect the public. As of May 18, here is a list of what is open, what isn’t, and how you can spend your days, as reported by WISTV.

ALLOWED TO OPEN

  • Beaches
  • Boating docks
  • Parks
  • Grocery stores with limited capacity (5 people per 1000 sq ft or 20% capacity)
  • Retail stores and malls with limited capacity (20% capacity)
  • Restaurants and self-identified bars with limited indoor dining (50% indoor capacity)
  • Gyms, yoga studios, and fitness boutiques with limited capacity (recommended at 20% capacity)
  • Barbershops and hair salons
  • Waxing salons
  • Threading salons
  • Nail salons
  • Spas
  • Body-art facilities and tattoo services
  • Tanning salons
  • Massage therapy establishments
  • Pools with limited capacity (recommended at 20% capacity)
CLOSED
  • Schools for 2019-2020 school year
    • K-12
    • Colleges and universities
    • Technical schools
  • Entertainment venues
  • Bowling alleys
  • Night clubs
  • Arcades
  • Concert halls
  • Theaters
  • Auditoriums
  • Performing art centers
  • Tourism attractions
  • Museums
  • Indoor child play areas (excluding daycares)
  • Adult entertainment venues
  • Bingo halls

The governor’s office the public is still encouraged to minimize contact with others and avoid large public gatherings to prevent the spread of the disease. Additionally, the governor’s office encourages people to “be their own physicians” and not shop at businesses not following guidelines. It is important to follow social distancing measures and adhere to rules that may be in place in individual businesses, as well as continue to frequently wash and sanitize hands and other frequently used items.

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7 Things to Do at Home while Social Distancing

Stuck at home? We know how you feel. Here’s a list of ways to beat the quarantine blues while staying productive, fit, and entertained.

Work

Those who have the ability to work from home should try to make remote employment a priority. If possible, make a designated space free of clutter and distractions, and use headphones in order to block out sound. Keeping a routine will help your daily life feel more normal. Just be sure to take little breaks!

Clean

The Center for Disease Control has lots of information on how to keep you and your family safe, recommending that frequently touched surfaces (think doorknobs, keyboards, toilet handles, and light switches) be cleaned and disinfected daily. Check their website for a detailed disinfection guide.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-LCXzol6S5/

Read

Bookworms now have extra free time to read something new. Check out the New York Times Best Seller list to see what your friends are talking about, or for lovers of local literature, click through to this amazing list of the best books about South Carolina (including several selections by beloved author Pat Conroy).

Exercise

Don’t let being at home stop you from being active! If possible, try to get out and take walks to get fresh air, whether on trails or simply around your neighborhood. If you want to stay indoors there are plenty of at-home workouts you can do to keep you feeling fit, no equipment necessary.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-JyVqzjnez/

Cook

With the ingredients you have at home, it’s important to try and eat healthy and creatively. Don’t make the same thing every day and don’t be afraid to get creative with what’s in the fridge. Try your hand at baking bread, cooking a new recipe, or making comfort food.

Binge

When all else fails, being stuck at home is one of the best excuses to watch a new series (or rewatch a beloved show for the millionth time). Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu have plenty of movies and shows to keep you busy, and USA Today has them all ranked for the ultimate binge-list. Popcorn not included.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-PxS0alvFr/

Support

Those who are looking for ways to help others while at home have many options. Look for blood donation centers nearby to help local community members in need. Check to see which restaurants in your area have moved to take-out or curbside pickup to help their business. Together, we can all get through this safely.

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