Are any towns in the Midlands following Columbia in issuing a stay-at-home order?
At 12:01 a.m. Sunday, the city of Columbia’s stay-at-home ordinance in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus went into effect. Residents are allowed to go to work in essential industries, go to the grocery store, pharmacy, gas station or doctor and take walks. But all non-essential businesses have closed and movement has been restricted.
The order, and one like it issued in Charleston, has attracted some criticism, and the office of state Attorney General Alan Wilson issued an opinion last week challenging the legal authority of local municipalities to even issue such ordinances, creating some confusion.
On Monday, though, Wilson said he would not sue towns trying to protect their citizens from the coronavirus, while maintaining his original opinion that stay-at-home ordinances are unlawful.
So, are any cities or towns in Richland and Lexington Counties considering a stay-at-home ordinance now that the threat of legal action by the state government has been taken off the table?
Camden
Camden City Manager Mel Pearson said the city, which has been at the epicenter of South Carolina’s coronavirus outbreak, isn’t planning to follow Columbia’s lead. But Pearson thinks in Camden’s case, a stay-home order would be redundant.
“We’re so close to it now,” Person said. “We have more than 70 businesses closed, and another 50 or so that have restricted hours or access or both. It wouldn’t make a lot of difference... There are still some people moving around, but there’s a lot less contact.”
Cayce
Cayce’s city council issued a joint resolution calling for Gov. McMaster to issue a statewide stay-at-home order, but city spokeswoman Ashley Hunter acknowledged that such a move from the governor is unlikely at this point.
As a result, the city is soliciting the feedback of residents and business owners on a potential stay-at-home order — a link to a survey is available on the city’s Facebook page.
The timeline for a decision based on that feedback is not set, Hunter said, adding that the city will likely act “swiftly” if there will be a change in the status quo.
“As soon as we feel like we’ve really heard from the majority of our citizens and our business leaders ... they will likely start making some decisions at that point,” Hunter said.
West Columbia
West Columbia has not given thought to and is not considering a stay-at-home order, Mayor Tem Miles said.
“We have been following the advice and recommendations of the CDC, DHEC, the governor’s office, who we’ve been in contact with, and federal authorities,” Miles said. “Unless the state or federal authorities ask us to order a stay-at-home order, we don’t intend to order one for West Columbia.”
With no doctors or scientists currently employed by the city, Miles said, he does not have any information that state and federal governments do not, and thus his plan is to follow their recommendations.
Chapin
Chapin is, at the moment, not planning to issue a stay-at-home order, town spokeswoman Nicholle Burroughs said. Because of the town’s small size and low number of residents, such an order would have little practical effect, said Burroughs.
“What tends to happen with us is not actually our residents are out and about, it is actually people from outside of our town. So the stay-at-home order really wouldn’t extend to them,” Burroughs said. “So we found that our best mode of communication or way to really influence positive behavior is to continue to spread that messaging through our communication networks and utilizing the local businesses to really try and make sure that people are social distancing and staying at home if and when possible.”
Irmo
Irmo plans on simply following whatever Gov. McMaster orders, Mayor Barry Walker said, including his order Tuesday to shut down non-essential businesses. On Friday, the town council will hold a special meeting to move to video conferencing — citizens will be able to use Zoom to ask questions and participate, Walker said.
Lexington
The town of Lexington plans on complying with whatever Gov. McMaster orders, spokeswoman Laurin Barnes said. Outside of that, there are no plans for additional restrictions or ordinances, such as a curfew.
Forest Acres
While Columbia residents will be required to stay at home for 14 days, the neighboring city of Forest Acres was quick to point out Friday the ordinance does not apply to its 10,000 residents.
“I feel this policy would be redundant at our level,” said Forest Acres City Councilman John Barnes. “Government’s job is to lead, which is to create clarity and avoid confusion.”
But Forest Acres City Councilman Thomas Andrews said he would “encourage and implore all residents to stay at home as much as possible during this time.”
Andrews penned an op-ed for The State calling on Gov. Henry McMaster to “quickly” issue a statewide stay-home order.
Forest Acres City Council will meet on Wednesday to discuss asking McMaster to issue a statewide stay-at-home order as well as the need for a curfew in the city, similar to one Columbia passed before its own stay-home order.
The city is enforcing orders from Gov. McMaster requiring bars and restaurants to close their dining areas, and limiting gatherings to no more than three people. The city council will also hold a meeting at 9 a.m. Monday to discuss how it can continue to meet while still practicing social distancing.
Forest Acres residents who work in Columbia will still be required to stay home if their profession has not been deemed an “essential service.”
Blythewood
Blythewood Town Administrator Brian Cook said the town is not looking at implementing a stay-at-home rule of its own. The town is following directions from the state government. It has closed its town offices, town employees are working from home and all events in the community of 3,000 have been canceled.
