Gov. McMaster toughens SC coronavirus stance, ordering state to work or ‘stay home’
In another effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus in the state, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued a more pointed executive order Monday telling people to stay at home if they are not at work or out tending to essential needs.
The executive order, which takes effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday, does not stop South Carolinians from going to work, visiting family and buying essential goods or services. The order also does not stop people from exercising outdoors or going for a walk.
The order, which McMaster’s office called a “home or work” order, also does not stop churchgoers from attending Easter services on Sunday, citing First Amendment protections.
The governor also restricted store capacity to five people inside per 1,000 square feet — or 20% of posted capacity, a similar measure other large retailers, including WalMart, have enforced over the past few days.
“Everyone should stay home unless they’re working, visiting family or (exercising) outdoors, obtaining necessary goods and services,” McMaster said on Monday. “Those are the limits.”
The governor’s order on Monday follows a number of other mandates he already has issued prohibiting large gatherings, closing access to beaches and lakes and closing many nonessential businesses to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, a potentially severe upper respiratory disease.
It also comes after days of McMaster urging South Carolina residents to use “common sense” and stay home if they can.
A violation of the governor’s order is a misdemeanor and carries 30 days in jail and/or $100 fine for each day of violation.
McMaster said people can still go to businesses that are open under his previous orders, including gun stores. He said he wouldn’t close gun stores because “It’s a constitutional right to have and bear arms.”
McMaster also said on Monday that he wouldn’t stop churchgoers from Easter services on Sunday, citing the First Amendment. But he encouraged church to stream services online, have church outdoors or otherwise ensure people social distance.
“It’s a little different because you don’t have the whole choir singing, but there aren’t more than three or four people in the church,” said McMaster, who added he and first lady Peggy McMaster have participated in online church services, adding “But it works — it’s good.”
McMaster recommended that South Carolinians prioritize any trips they take outside of their homes in an effort to stem the COVID-19 outbreak.
State health officials on Monday reported another 183 positive cases of coronavirus that now brings the state to 2,232 total. Officials also announced another four people died of coronavirus complications, bringing the state’s total to 48.
Federal and state officials over the weekend issued dire warnings about coronvairus, comparing it as much to Pearl Harbor.
The state’s peak of coronavirus-related deaths is projected in early May, according to health officials.
Expecting a potential surge in cases, state Adjutant Gen. Maj. Gen. Van McCarty said at Monday’s press briefing the state’s hospital surge plan projects 3,500 people will be hospitalized due to COVID-19. As of Monday, 5,944 hospital beds were open.
“What our plan will allow us to do is to add 3,000 beds,” McCarty said.
The governor’s office said on Monday that even though motor traffic has dropped around the state recently that decrease has leveled off and state leaders and public health officials say it hasn’t decreased to the level it needs to be.
At the briefing, McMaster said motor vehicle traffic went up over the weekend in some places, increasing the possibility of people interacting and spreading the virus.
“That tells us there’s a level of noncompliance,” McMaster said. “They’re traveling.”
Why a tougher mandate now? McMaster said too many people are on the roads, on the water and in the stores.
“It is now time to make these recommended actions required,” McMaster said. “... Too many people are not complying with or requests for social distancing.”
Only three days ago, McMaster resisted calls to issue a stay-at-home order, focusing on incremental changes rather than a broader measure.
Asked on Monday why not call his new executive order a “stay-at-home” mandate, the governor said: “This is a stay-at-home order. You call it what you like, but it says, ‘stay at home.’ ”
Reporter John Monk contributed.
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 4:23 PM with the headline "Gov. McMaster toughens SC coronavirus stance, ordering state to work or ‘stay home’."
