Under McMaster’s order, SC businesses open back up. But some owners remain skeptical
With Gov. Henry McMaster’s official blessing, several Columbia-area businesses reopened doors to customers Tuesday while others say they remain skeptical they will open back up before May as the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the state continues to grow.
And owners of businesses in what is likely the next wave of reopenings — close contact businesses such as salons and gyms, and possibly inside dining at restaurants — are increasingly anxious about opening and putting themselves and their customers back at risk.
Take Robin Gottlieb.
It didn’t take an order from South Carolina’s governor for Gottlieb to close up shop at her hair salon in Columbia about a month ago as a way to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, which causes the sometimes severe COVID-19 respiratory disease.
Gottlieb’s mind promptly was made up when she entered the bathroom shared by the people who work at and visit her salon and the other businesses located in the Sola building downtown.
“It was a debate for a minute, but when I walked into the (shared) bathroom and there were six people in there, children, I was like, oh, I’m done,” Gottlieb said. “No matter how clean I am, I can’t do it. I can’t stress out about things I can’t control.”
Now that businesses are beginning to reopen, she’s faced with another question: If McMaster allows close-contact businesses to reopen, likely the next phase of his efforts to get the economy moving again, will she wait or jump on board?
“Of course I want to (reopen), I want income again,” Gottlieb said. “I don’t think it’s the right time. I’ve made a decision for myself that when the governor says it’s OK, I’m going to give it a couple of weeks.”
On Monday, McMaster lifted restrictions on some retail stores, allowing store owners to get back to business with at least one stipulation that they limit customers to five for every 1,000 square feet, or 20% of the posted occupancy.
With that move, he also gave local officials the OK to reopen the state’s public access points to beaches. A few days before, McMaster had said boaters could start using public ramps for fishing. The reversals came roughly two weeks after McMaster began his rollout of closings as the state’s number of cases of the coronavirus climbed rapidly.
The reopening of businesses in South Carolina comes as governors, especially those in Republican states, have moved to lift restrictions as they face pressure to reopen their state’s economy despite the continued growing spread of COVID-19.
President Donald Trump has also openly encouraged protests against stay-at-home orders from some Democratic governors.
But the decision to reopen some businesses, being made before South Carolina shows evidence of a decline in coronavirus cases, have their critics among some local leaders, including some who ordered people to stay home before McMaster did. And, despite getting the official OK to reopen, many local coastal leaders have chosen to keep access to beaches closed out of concern over the virus’ spread.
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin said city officials need to see data that shows a more than two-week decline of cases before he endorses any reopening idea.
Benjamin questioned whether business owners would be well-equipped to monitor their employees’ health, adding there are still not enough tests for the public. On top of that, it will take time for owners to readjust workplace safety, he said.
The city still remains under a curfew, which Benjamin said has been proven to be effective.
“We’re trying to be the data-driven adults in the room, and tell folks the first question is when, but the next question is how,” he said.
And governors who have opened their states too quickly also have found themselves in the hot seat.
At the same time McMaster reversed an order allowing some stores to reopen, Georgia’s Gov. Brian Kemp went even further on Monday, opening back up businesses such as salons and tattoo parlors, bowling alleys and movie theaters.
South Carolina’s U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham backed McMaster’s store reversal this week, but stopped short of supporting Kemp. In a tweet, Graham said he worried Kemp’s order was “too fast too soon.”
“We respect Georgia’s right to determine its own fate, but we are all in this together,” Graham tweeted on Tuesday. “What happens in Georgia will impact us in South Carolina.”
Asked Wednesday, McMaster said he’s not made a decision as to when he’ll allow close-contact businesses to reopen.
“We’re in the process of gathering the information, getting the facts, getting the science and taking the measurements,” he said. “We follow the old carpenter’s rule, which is measure twice and cut once. And we don’t want to make any mistakes.”
Not ‘time for us to open up yet’
Asked about Georgia’s decision on Tuesday, physician Dr. Deborah Birx, who serves on Trump’s COVID-19 task force, told reporters if there is a way owners can ensure social distancing at those businesses then they can reopen.
However, she said, “I don’t know how, but people are very creative, so, I’m not going to prejudge.”
Some S.C. salon owners say there is just no way that would work.
Claire Taylor, owner of Moda Salon on State Street in West Columbia, said she is willing to take a financial hit if that means keeping her and her clients safe.
“I don’t think it’s time for us to open up yet,” Taylor said. “Personally, even if we open back up, I will not go back. Economically, it’s a hardship on all of us. However, I’m not willing to put my life or potentially the life of any client at risk to make money.”
Laura Hurst, 22-year owner of Extreme Hair Salon in North Augusta, agrees.
“I don’t know what to do really. It’s a hard decision, very hard,” Hurst said. “As much as the finances are needed ... it’s also (asking) is it worth risking our health, our life? I would feel safer to not open for at least three to four weeks and let us see if it is going to taper off instead of coming back so quick and chancing a wider spread of this virus.”
But some South Carolinians say they’re ready to get back to what feels like normalcy, including S.C. House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford. The Democrat from Richland asked the governor Wednesday to open restaurants with outdoor seating — six feet apart — to customers of the same household.
At King’s Jewelers, a downtown Columbia staple, Dustin Lown of Columbia took advantage of its reopening Tuesday and bought a birthday present.
“I’m ready for it to open up,” Lown, who works in construction, said of businesses opening up the doors. “I like it. If people don’t want to go out, they don’t have to go out. I really am ready for the restaurants (to reopen). My cooking is not that great.”
King’s Jewelers reopened immediately, the day following McMaster’s announcement.
“We’ve had traffic, had some telephone calls. Every one is a little nervous,” said Jeff Picow, who co-owns the shop with his brother, Ian Picow. “We’re more aware of what we do, especially with people.”
The jewelry store sealed its doors when McMaster ordered closings of so-called “nonessential” businesses.
But then bills continued to pile up, said Jeff Picow, and the brothers were ready to get back to work.
“If we don’t open now, when do you open?”
This story was originally published April 23, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
