Is it ‘essential’? Why some Beaufort County businesses are open after coronavirus order
What businesses are essential? Some Beaufort County residents are trying to figure that out in the wake of Gov. Henry McMaster’s order to close certain businesses due to coronavirus this week.
During a press conference Tuesday, McMaster ordered a range of non-essential businesses to close by 5 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed for 15 days. Since then, The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette have fielded questions about whether retail centers and services such as landscaping are included in the governor’s order.
The answer in both cases is that they are not listed among the types of businesses that must close and therefore may continue doing business.
The governor’s order was specific in listing three types of businesses that must close: Entertainment venues, recreation centers and close-contact service providers.
If businesses are not specifically mentioned on the list, they may remain open, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce, which was given the authority to clarify the governor’s ruling.
Alex Clark, spokesperson for the commerce department, said in an emailed statement that South Carolinians can fill out a form on the agency’s website to request information regarding a specific business type if they have questions.
“Our COVID-19 response team will respond within 24 hours of receiving the completed online form,” Clark wrote.
Ted Pitts, president and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, said on Wednesday afternoon that he wouldn’t be surprised if McMaster adds to the list of non-essential businesses over the next few weeks.
“He has said that the list will be reviewed,” Pitts said. “There could be more to come at the appropriate time.”
In the meantime, Pitts added, businesses that can remain open safely likely will so that they can pay their employees and cover their business expenses.
“The pandemic has delivered a heavy toll to businesses, especially small business,” he said.
McMaster’s order was one of the most extensive he has issued in recent weeks, but it was not a stay-at-home order like dozens of other states have issued or one that several other elected leaders have called for, The State newspaper reported. The governor said he wants to be as least disruptive to people’s lives as possible.
Here is the specific list of non-essential businesses, venues, facilities, services and activities that must temporarily close, according to the S.C. Emergency Management Division and S.C. Department of Commerce:
Entertainment venues and facilities
▪ Night clubs
▪ Bowling alleys
▪ Arcades
▪ Concert venues
▪ Theaters, auditoriums and performing arts centers
▪ Tourist attractions (including museums, aquariums and planetariums)
▪ Racetracks
▪ Indoor children’s play areas (not including daycare centers)
▪ Adult entertainment venues
▪ Bingo halls
▪ Venues operated by social clubs
Recreational and athletic facilities and activities
▪ Fitness and exercise centers and commercial gyms
▪ Spas and public or commercial swimming pools
▪ Group exercise facilities (including yoga, barre and spin studios or facilities)
▪ Spectator sports
▪ Sports that involve interaction with another person in close proximity and within less than six (6) feet of another person
▪ Activities that require the use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment
▪ Activities on commercial or public playground equipment
Close-contact service providers
▪ Barber shops and hair salons
▪ Waxing and threading salons
▪ Nail salons and spas
▪ Body-art facilities and tattoo services
▪ Tanning salons
▪ Massage-therapy establishments and massage services
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 10:14 AM.
