South Carolina will reopen public beach access and retail stores on Tuesday of next week that were closed under orders to slow the spread of coronavirus, according to an article in The Post and Courier.
After lifting the ban on public boat ramps and landings on Friday, S.C. Governor Henry McMaster is beginning efforts to reverse the restrictions that he ordered as COVID-19 cases swept across the state.
On Monday, Gov. McMaster will issue orders allowing beachgoers and visitors to rivers and lakes to use public accesses and allowing shoppers to go back to clothing, jewelry and furniture stores, the article said.
The reopenings are scheduled for Tuesday.
It is believed, by some, that infection rates have dropped enough to ease some of the restrictions, but S.C. health officials have said they are not expecting a peak on coronavirus cases until early May.
Social distancing will be enforced on beaches all along the state’s 187 miles of coastline with authorities being permitted to charge groups of 3 or more with being considered a health threat.
Please note that Hunting Island is a state park; one of 4 that offer beach access. The state parks were closed before Gov. McMaster issued his order to close public beach access. There is no guarantee at this time that any of our state parks will reopen.
Local governments will still be able to create their own rules about local waterway access.
All South Carolina stores will be expected to limit occupancy to five customers per 1,000 square feet of retail space or 20% of total occupancy, whichever is less.
There is no mention of other business types, restaurants or schools reopening. The coronavirus pandemic has been a learn-as-we-go situation and this seems to just be an easing of the restrictions just a little bit.
