Is dining in your future? McMaster plans to lift SC’s restaurant capacity limits ‘soon’
Gov. Henry McMaster said on Thursday he plans to lift capacity restrictions he put on restaurants to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus “soon.”
The comments came after a press conference during which McMaster discussed efforts to keep open Parris Island, a Marine Corps training base in Beaufort County.
Under an order by McMaster, restaurants are limited to 50% of the posted capacity in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. The limits help ensure social distancing.
McMaster also has ordered tables be spaced at least eight feet apart with no more than eight customers at a table unless everyone’s from the same family. He also has prohibited standing or congregating in bar area of a restaurant.
The governor said the space requirement would go away.
“But that’s dependent on the size of the place, and many places you can have much distancing without having any particular limit,” McMaster said.
When McMaster first allowed restaurants to again have in-person dining, he first permitted outdoor dining for before allowing indoor dining to take place.
McMaster also encouraged people to stay outside as much as they can.
“The more outside the better. The bigger the rooms like this one, the better,” McMaster said. ”But yes, ... fresh air, ventilation, not circulation but ventilation is good. When I ride in the vehicle, I keep a window open and try to get outside as much as I can.”
McMaster said when he does lift restaurant restrictions, a rule requiring people to wear a mask inside of restaurants, unless they are eating or drinking, will remain in place.
McMaster’s comments come as other southeastern states have lifted restrictions on restaurants.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently allowed restaurants to go to 100% indoor capacity, and local governments would have to justify to the state if they wanted to keep restaurant capacity under 50%. Georgia also does not have capacity limits on restaurants.
However, McMaster said he plans to keep in place his “last call” order, which prohibits alcohol from being sold after 11 p.m. each night.
“The limitation on the sale of consumption of alcohol only has been very effective,” McMaster said.
State Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, has been supportive of statewide mask mandate, even though the governor is leaving it up to local governments to decide.
“This is good, but someone please tell me the benefit of wearing a mask from the restaurant door to the table and from the table to the door,” Massey tweeted reacting to McMaster’s comments on Thursday. “Why is that short trek worthy of a statewide mandate? Seriously, people think this is stupid.”
This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 1:46 PM.
