Bluffton leaders ‘urge’ shoppers to wear masks after stricter coronavirus rules fail
After Bluffton residents criticized a proposed law this week that would have required shoppers to wear masks and businesses to restrict shopping, Bluffton leaders reconvened on Thursday and passed a resolution with no enforcement capabilities. It urges shoppers to wear masks and businesses to follow “best practices” to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Bluffton Town Council members unanimously approved the resolution Thursday evening, touting it as less restrictive than the mandatory ordinance considered on Tuesday.
“I just want to remind everybody that this is a resolution. It’s not mandated,” Council member Dan Wood said. “We’re concerned. We’re concerned about our citizens, our public. Wearing a mask is not about me and whether I want to wear a mask or not, it’s about my wife, my children, my family, my parents, you, friends. That’s why the encouragement is coming to social distance with a mask.”
With Thursday’s resolution, Bluffton now joins several neighboring municipalities trying to balance stopping the spread of coronavirus while still protecting citizens’ and businesses’ rights.
The safety measures passed by Bluffton, Hilton Head, Beaufort and Charleston highlight the limited authority of local governments, which results in resolutions and ordinances that “urge,” “encourage,” and “affirm” certain behaviors but prevents stronger language.
On Hilton Head Island, leaders voted last week on an almost identical resolution recommending residents wear masks while shopping.
In Beaufort, leaders voted on Tuesday asking businesses and customers to adhere to S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s social distancing orders and consider remaining closed if the safety measures McMaster mandated can’t be met or until the orders are lifted.
In Charleston, business owners will have to post a sign with the number of people allowed in the store at a time and have an employee track the number of customers to follow McMaster’s guidelines of no more than five customers per 1,000 square feet, The Post and Courier reported.
Earlier this week, Bluffton leaders tried to pass a more restrictive ordinance that urged residents to wear masks when shopping and required businesses to follow a strict set of rules if they wish to reopen, with violators punished by up to a $100 fine. Council members ultimately dropped the idea as residents said it was too burdensome on businesses.
The new resolution includes the same guidelines as the previous ordinance, but “urges” instead of “requires.” There is no punishment for people who do not follow the guidelines.
