Governor Henry McMaster will allow all remaining businesses to reopen effective Monday, August 3

Governor Henry McMaster will allow all remaining businesses to reopen effective Monday, August 3, but with restrictions and even some mask-wearing requirements….

The governor announced this afternoon that restaurants must remain at 50-percent capacity. He also made mandatory the previous guidelines about staff wearing masks, group size and social distancing in restaurants. Alcohol sales still must stop at 11:00 p.m.

The remaining group of businesses and activities which had been prohibited will be allowed to operate again beginning Monday, although they may not exceed 50 percent capacity or 250 people, whichever is less, and that the wearing of face masks is required as a condition of admission or participation. “You can’t keep businesses closed forever,” McMaster said.

This last group of businesses allowed to reopen includes: festivals, parades, concerts, theaters, stadiums, arenas, coliseums, auditoriums, gymnasiums, concert halls, dance halls, performing arts centers, parks, racetracks and similar entities.

The governor did say that permission to exceed the capacity limits for this group may be granted by the SC Commerce Department if the business or entity can demonstrate the ability to comply with state and federal COVID-19 rules, including social distancing. That means that a football game, for example, could be viewed by more than 250 spectators if the venue can demonstrate that it can do so safely, within the guidelines.

Governor McMaster also ordered that face coverings must be worn in all state government buildings, effective Wednesday, August 5.