It’s been 2 weeks since Beaufort started requiring masks. How is it being enforced?
The city of Beaufort has issued dozens of warnings during the almost two weeks since it began requiring masks to slow the spread of coronavirus.
As officials have encouraged compliance over penalties, 51 people have received warnings for not wearing face coverings since the city’s ordinance went into effect July 1, the city said Monday. No one has been slapped with the $50 civil penalty for a repeat violation of the city rules.
The city mandates people wear masks when inside buildings open to the public and that employees wear face coverings when near co-workers or in areas open to the public to help prevent transmitting COVID-19. No businesses have been among those receiving warnings.
“We appreciate that our residents, visitors and businesses are taking this seriously, and doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19,” city manager Bill Prokop said.
Similar ordinances have been adopted throughout Beaufort County and elsewhere in the state as Gov. Henry McMaster has declined to require masks as part of an executive order related to coronavirus.
In Port Royal, where masks have been required since July 2, no warnings or citations have been issued, according to police.
“Everyone that we’ve seen is complying,” Police Chief Alan Beach said in an email Monday.
Beaufort County, Hilton Head Island, Beaufort, Bluffton and Port Royal each passed its own mask ordinance ahead of July 4 weekend in response to rising cases of COVID-19 in South Carolina.
The town of Yemassee will consider a mask requirement during its Town Council meeting Tuesday. Under the proposed rule, people would be required to wear face coverings when entering buildings open to the public, with a potential $25 penalty.
Hilton Head is the only county jurisdiction where a violation is a misdemeanor, with violations punishable by a fine up to $500 or jail time.
Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, charged with policing unincorporated county and the town of Hilton Head, had received 31 calls related to mask requirements as of last week. Of those, 26 were for information and another five were to report potential violators, the agency said. No one has been fined or criminally charged.
