Governor Henry McMaster directs certain "non-essential" businesses to close

The governor issued Executive Order 2020-17 this afternoon, which lists “non-essential” businesses and activities required to cease, effective Wednesday, April 1, for 15 days.

“Subject to any further clarification, guidance, rules, regulations, or restrictions issued, provided, or promulgated by the South Carolina Department of Commerce, as authorized herein below, I hereby order and direct that effective Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at 5:00 p.m., the following “non-essential” businesses, venues, facilities, services, and activities shall be closed to non-employees and shall not be open for access or use by the public—to include members, if access or use is ordinarily restricted to or based on membership—or shall not take place, as applicable:

1. Entertainment venues and facilities as follows:
(a) Night clubs
(b) Bowling alleys
(c) Arcades
(d) Concert venues
(e) Theaters, auditoriums, and performing arts centers
(f) Tourist attractions (including museums, aquariums, and planetariums)
(g) Racetracks
(h) Indoor children’s play areas, with the exception of licensed childcare facilities
(i) Adult entertainment venues
(j) Bingo halls
(k) Venues operated by social clubs

2. Recreational and athletic facilities and activities as follows:
(a) Fitness and exercise centers and commercial gyms
(b) Spas and public or commercial swimming pools
(c) Group exercise facilities, to include yoga, barre, and spin studios or facilities
(d) Spectator sports
(e) Sports that involve interaction in close proximity to and within less than six (6) feet of another person
(f) Activities that require the use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment
(g) Activities on commercial or public playground equipment

3. Close-contact service providers as follows:
(a) Barber shops
(b) Hair salons
(c) Waxing salons
(d) Threading salons
(e) Nail salons and spas
(f) Body-art facilities and tattoo services
(g) Tanning salons
(h) Massage-therapy establishments and massage services.”

Today’s order does not apply to grocery stores, drug stores, pharmacies and other businesses deemed essential. Takeout orders from restaurants and window orders from fast food restaurants will still be allowed. Big box stores which sell groceries and drugs will be allowed to stay open. Banks and gas stations also will be allowed to stay open.