From staff reports
Governor Henry McMaster issued an executive order Monday evening lifting restrictions on public access to the state’s beaches, public piers, docks and wharfs, and allowing some of the state’s retailers to reopen.
Beaufort County opened all county-managed public piers, docks and beach access by noon, Tuesday, April 21.
They are:
BEACH AND WATERWAY ACCESS
Alljoy Beach
Bermuda Bluff
Bloody Point
Coosaw Island
Lands End Overlooks
New Daufuskie Beach Access
Old Daufuskie Beach Access
Pappy’s Landing
The Sands
PIERS AND DOCKS
Bluffton Public Dock
Broad River Fishing Pier
Camp St. Mary’s Fishing Pier
C.C. Haigh, Jr. Landing Fixed Pier
Daufuskie Landing Fixed Pier
Factory Creek Fishing Pier
Jenkins Island Pier
Old House Creek Pier
Whale Branch Fishing Pier
Wimbee Creek Fishing Pier
Hunting Island State Park, managed by the S.C. State Park System, remains closed until April 30. Public beach access points managed by individual municipalities remain closed until reopened by that municipality’s Council decision. Hilton Head Island has said its beaches will remain closed through April 30.
Open for business
Governor McMaster’s executive order Monday allowed the following businesses to reopen, effective immediately:
Furniture and home-furnishings stores
Clothing, shoe, and clothing-accessory stores
Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores
Department stores, with the exception of hardware and home-improvement stores
Sporting goods stores
Book, craft, and music stores
Flea markets
Florists and flower stores
All other businesses previously closed by executive order will remain closed until further notice.
Under the order, retail stores must adhere to strict social-distancing requirements, operating at 20% occupancy or five customers per 1,000 square feet, whichever is less.
In addition, businesses must not knowingly allow customers to congregate within six feet of one another, excluding families, and must follow relevant CDC and DHEC guidelines.
All other executive orders, including the Governor’s “Home or Work” order, remain in effect. South Carolinians should maintain social distancing practices and avoid large groups of people.
McMaster creates accelerateSC
McMaster on Monday also announced the creation of accelerateSC, a coordinated economic revitalization plan involving small and large business leaders, healthcare professionals, local government officials, and education professionals.
The plan consists of five components of analysis and effort: Response, Protection, Governance, Resources, and Information. James Burns, a partner at the law firm of Nelson, Mullins, Riley and Scarborough, will serve as accelerateSC’s executive director. Burns and the rest of the membership are serving in a voluntary capacity.
Gov. McMaster and Lt. Governor Pamela Evette will attend and lead the first meeting of accelerateSC on Thursday of this week. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
On Tuesday, S.C. Senate President Harvey Peeler named three senators to the accelerateSC advisory team.
Sen. Tom Davis (R-Beaufort), Sen. Gerald Malloy (D-Darlington) and Sen. Ross Turner (R-Greenville) will work with business and community leaders in developing a coordinated economic revitalization plan for our state.
“These three senators have knowledge in business, regulatory and tourism,” Peeler said in a release. “They are prepared to work with the Governor and his advisory team to revitalize our economy while protecting our citizens’ health.”
Peeler added, “I, like most South Carolinians, hope that our state can be back at full speed soon.”
