| Greenville News
Starting on Monday, the limits for mass meetings will be lifted in South Carolina, and bars and restaurants may resume selling alcohol after 11 pm.
Governor Henry McMaster announced the measures on Friday afternoon, marking the end of restrictions imposed last year to deal with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has been responsible for more than 8,000 deaths in South Carolina.
After the peak in January, new cases of COVID-19 have declined significantly in South Carolina and other parts of the country in recent weeks, with the start of vaccinations.
“With the spread of the virus steadily decreasing across the country and more of the most vulnerable Southern Carolinians being vaccinated every day, I believe that these targeted and limited security measures are no longer needed,” said McMaster in a press release. on Friday afternoon.
In an interview last week for The Greenville News, the Republican governor said he was eager to “remove all these restrictions from everything we can”.
But McMaster also said that businesses and residents need to remain vigilant about complying with the guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, a point he again emphasized in a press release on Friday afternoon.
“Everyone should understand that we will take masks with us, wash our hands and stay separate, keeping the windows open, getting as much fresh air, ventilation in the buildings. All of those things, let’s do this for a while now,” McMaster told The News during last week’s interview at the Statehouse.
During a wave of COVID-19 cases in July, McMaster ordered 8,000 restaurants, bars, breweries, and similar establishments in the state to stop serving alcohol at 11 pm every night. The aim of the change was to decrease the spread of COVID-19 in the population under 40 in South Carolina.
In early August, cinemas, arenas, stadiums and other large venues across South Carolina were allowed to reopen with severe attendance restrictions, with the aim of preventing an increase in COVID-19 infections.
These venues and events, such as festivals and parades, were limited to no more than 250 people, and those who attended were required to wear masks.
Business owners, event planners and college football leagues were allowed to obtain exemptions from attendance limits, demonstrating their ability to comply with federal and state coronavirus procedures and protocols.
Although it is no longer mandatory, state officials are asking the organizers of large meetings to continue to limit participation to 50% of the event’s space occupancy limit or less than 250 people. The use of masks, social distance and adherence to the other COVID-19 guidelines are also encouraged.
Kirk Brown covers government, growth and politics for The Greenville News. Contact him at [email protected] or on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM. Subscribe to The Greenville News by visiting greenvillenews.subscriber.services.