All of Beaufort County under mask requirement after Yemassee passes rule. What to know
Face coverings are now required in all of Beaufort County after Yemassee became the latest jurisdiction to pass a rule aimed at slowing COVID-19.
The Town Council voted 3-1 Tuesday to require masks of anyone entering a building open to the public and requiring employees to wear masks in areas open to the public, town clerk Matt Garnes said. There are exceptions for children younger than 8 and those who can’t safely wear a mask because of a health condition.
Violating the ordinance is a civil infraction that carries a $25 fine. Businesses with repeat violations could have occupancy permits or businesses licenses suspended or revoked.
Yemassee, which straddles Beaufort and Hampton counties, was the last municipality in Beaufort County to pass such a mandate. The town joins Estill in Hampton County jurisdictions with mask requirements.
The city of Beaufort and towns of Port Royal and Bluffton passed similar rules with possible $50 infractions. There’s no penalty for not wearing a mask in unincorporated Beaufort County, while violating the town of Hilton Head Island’s ordinance is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine and jail time.
Yemassee’s rule went into effect at noon Wednesday and will last 61 days or until council pass another ordinance.
