Town of Port Royal passes mask requirements. Here are the details
The town of Port Royal on Wednesday joined numerous other cities and towns throughout South Carolina in passing mask requirements as coronavirus spreads.
Masks are required by anyone entering commercial establishments open to the public. Employees of those businesses are required to wear masks when interacting face to face with the public.
The penalty would be a civil infraction with a fine of up to $50 with a warning first to encourage compliance. The rules went into effect at 8 a.m. Thursday after a unanimous vote by Port Royal Town Council Wednesday evening.
“We’re all trying to do the best we can, and unfortunately we do have to have some guidelines,” council member Mary Beth Gray Heyward said. “The COVID-19 is a deadly beast — we have to stop it.”
Exceptions were included for children ages 8 and younger and people who are actively exercising in a gym.
On Monday, Beaufort passed new rules requiring masks in buildings open to the public. Employees must wear masks in areas open to customers and when close to coworkers. The civil penalty is $50.
The town of Hilton Head Island passed similar rules Monday, as did Bluffton on Tuesday. While Bluffton also enacted a $50 civil fine, violating Hilton Head’s policy is a criminal misdemeanor and punishable by a fine of up to $500 or jail time.
Beaufort County Council also passed new requirements Wednesday that people wear masks inside commercial and public buildings.
This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 10:01 AM.
