York discusses mask mandate as Rock Hill, Fort Mill approve ordinances

ROCK HILL, S.C. — On Tuesday, York City Council discussed the next steps the town should take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The town of Fort Mill held an emergency meeting Monday and joined Rock Hill in requiring face coverings. The mandate will last for 30 days.

Officials said the ordinance starts Wednesday, and people must wear masks while inside any food, retail stores, and service businesses.

“While wearing a mask may not prevent the transference of this virus, all indications appear to support that wearing one does greatly reduce the opportunity to share the virus with others. Much like covering your mouth when you cough, wearing a mask in public places helps to minimize the chances for the virus to be shared between people,” Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage said.

On Monday morning, Rock Hill became the 12th of South Carolina’s 15 largest cities to make wearing face coverings mandatory.

The ordinance in Rock Hill, which will last 60 days, requires residents to wear face masks in public within city limits starting on Friday. This includes grocery stores, government buildings and public transit.

Rock Hill is the first city in York County to pass a requirement like this.

The decisions comes after York County added nearly 200 new coronavirus cases this weekend, according to DHEC.

Some council members feel the new ordinance is confusing and leaves too many areas for questions.

The council passed it on a 5 to 2 vote with members John Black and Kevin Sutton voting against it.

“There are some very confusing messages out there, and this doesn’t really do a whole lot to clear it up,” lack said.

Several members voiced concerns that it would be difficult to enforce, and it was unclear what was expected of businesses, and what wasn't.

Councilman Sutton wanted to know if businesses could lose their license or face penalties if they didn’t enforce the mandate. It was written so the burden would not fall on businesses to enforce. However, they do have to require masks for all employees.

In voting in favor of the ordinance, councilman Jim Reno said, “It’s all about loving your neighbor.”

Several other members of council felt the same, believing that requiring masks could also help ensure that schools open next month, and keep businesses from facing another shut down.

The new mandate says masks must be worn inside all retail and service businesses (and all government buildings).

Mandate’s Key Points:

• Businesses are not required to enforce for customers, only for staff
• Businesses may refuse service to someone not wearing a mask
• There is a $25 fine after a warning has been issued

There are several exceptions including:

• Religious beliefs
• Medical conditions
• Children under 10
• Being outside where social distancing is possible

Another concern involved gyms.

Council members wanted clarification on when masks have to be worn in a gym. It was decided that patrons must wear a mask while walking into a gym, resting between sets of exercise, or while watching someone else. They can be removed while doing work outs.

Resident Rebecca Lugthart spoke before the council and said the numbers of coronavirus cases are inflated. She pointed to statistics that show deaths on the decline and urged the council not to force masks on the public.

“I just think that we’re being played. You only need to do a little bit of research to learn that the media and political agendas are taking us for a ride,” she said.

Ernest Rodriguez nearly died from COVID-19 two months ago. He was there Monday to push for a mandatory mask law.

“I spent 16 days on a ventilator. If people had been wearing their masks none of this would have happened to me,” he said.

The emergency ordinance will be in effect for sixty days. Council members can come back to the issue sooner, and lift the mandate by majority vote, if they chose to.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said he won’t enforce a statewide mask mandate. Instead, he’s leaving it up to individual towns and cities.

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