SC salons, gyms, pools can reopen, McMaster says. Here’s when
Gov. Henry McMaster will allow gyms, salons, barber shops, and other close contact businesses, as well as public pools to reopen as early as next week.
The move comes as accelerateSC — a group of business, government and health leaders — work toward finalizing recommendations on how to safely reopen the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic and the Department of Health and Environmental Control works to increase testing in the state.
McMaster said Monday that the businesses, many of which have been closed since March 31, can reopen their shops beginning May 18.
The state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control also announced it has increased its ability to do contact tracing when comes to the spread of the virus. Dr. Linda Bell, the state’s chief epidemiologist, said Monday the agency is on course to test a full 2% of the state’s population — around 110,000 people — in the month of May, and hopes to conduct just as many tests in June. A recent study from the Harvard’s Global Health Institute, however, showed those efforts still lag from where the state should be by the end of the week, estimating S.C. should be testing more than 265,000 people a month.
“With our increased capacity for testing the people of our state, it is time to responsibly and gradually get these small businesses back up and running,” McMaster said. “We have an opportunity to set an example for the rest of the world by reinvigorating our economy while staying safe, but we can only do that if South Carolinians continue to follow the advice and recommendations of our public health experts.”
Other close contact service businesses such as waxing salons, threading salons, nail salons and spas, body-art facilities and tattoo services, tanning salons, massage-therapy establishments and massage services will be allowed to reopen too.
At the end of March, McMaster ordered the closure of non-essential businesses, including businesses that have close contact with customers in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The decision to reopen businesses comes as South Carolina’s death total continues to rise. The state announced 140 new cases and 14 deaths Monday, bringing the states total count to 7,792 cases and 346 deaths.
The governor also announced plans for state employees who have been working from home to begin returning to the office, with the first group of government workers returning to their desks no later than June 3.
Some of the draft guidelines coming from accelerateSC and DHEC have developed for salons and gyms to reopen include having businesses use a digital check-in process and limit the number of people waiting to be served. Staff members would have to wear masks, change their smocks after each customer, and wipe down a station after each use.
Other close contact businesses may be advised to clean frequently touched areas between each customer, have antibacterial soap available, screen customers before they enter, and, if possible, require customers and employees to wear masks.
None of the guidelines are mandatory.
“You have to be your own doctor,” McMaster said. “Each business will be a little bit different, but there are common things we can do to ensure this virus can’t get us.”
At gyms, recommendations being considered by accelerate SC include limiting capacity to five people per 1,000 square feet or 20% of capacity, whichever is less. Gym staff could be advised to clean their facilities every two hours with “medical grade” cleaning products, and not allow customers to share equipment.
People are also advised to not drink from water fountains. Rather, under the draft recommendations, clients would only be allowed to refill bottles at water fountains.
Decisions about the reopenings of amusement parks, entertainment venues, zoos and other tourist attractions, which also closed in March, will be made at a later date, McMaster said.
In recent weeks, McMaster has allowed restaurants to allow in-person dining as well as allowing some other retail businesses to reopen, all at reduced capacities.
The governor emphasized at Monday’s press conference that the state is taking a deliberative approach to reopening, and that South Carolina wasn’t affected as bad, economically, compared to other states which manufacturing plants close or mandated that at-home worship services cease.
“That wasn’t necessary here,” McMaster said. “We had a thorough and strong approach.”
This story was originally published May 11, 2020 at 4:45 PM.
