South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster held a press briefing today, with an update on Coronavirus in South Carolina. Gov. McMaster announced a statewide effort to contain the coronavirus, to include, testing, contact tracing of COVID-19 and more. One of the biggest announcements from today's press briefing, included the reopening of more South Carolina businesses, but with some restrictions, regarding close-contact services and recreational and athletic facilities, shall reopen May 18th at 12:01am.
Close-contact businesses may reopen, May 18th: barbershops, tattoo parlors, massage parlors, hair salons, waxing salons, tanning salons, nail salons.
Recreational businesses may also reopen on May 18th for: fitness centers, gyms, pools, spas, yoga, and other exercise facilities.
Also state employees will be able to return to work, no later than June 1st, but as soon as PPE materials are available at their respective job sites.
According to a release from Gov McMaster's office:
“With our increased capacity for testing the people of our state, it is time to responsibly and gradually get these small businesses back up and running,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “We have an opportunity to set an example for the rest of the world by reinvigorating our economy while staying safe, but we can only do that if South Carolinians continue to follow the advice and recommendations of our public health experts.”
The governor’s announcement comes following nearly three weeks of accelerateSC meeting, in part, for the purpose of developing guidelines for operations that each of these businesses are expected to follow, if and when they choose to open.
The “Response” component of accelerateSC, with advice and recommendations from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), have developed general guidelines for close contact service providers, along with specific guidelines for cosmetology establishments, gyms and fitness centers, and public or commercial pools.
These guidelines include, but are not limited to the following:
- Guidance on social distancing within businesses, including recommended capacity requirements
- Additional cleaning and sanitizing guidelines for equipment, tables, chairs, etc.
- Additional guidance on health checks for employees
- Additional guidance on training for employees