Hartsville City Council to consider a plan for mandatory face masks
By Bobby Bryant
Editor
editor@newsandpress.net
A plan calling for mandatory face masks “in certain situations and locations” was on the agenda for Hartsville City Council’s Aug. 11 meeting.
The proposal, which was set to be discussed during council’s regular monthly meeting at 5 p.m. at City Hall, essentially would require anyone in the city to wear face masks to help protect them and others from COVID-19 if they were inside “the enclosed area of any retail establishment, food-service establishment or city-owned buildings.”
Also, under the proposal, all “retail establishments” would have to require employees to wear masks “while working in areas open to the general public and areas in which interactions with other staff are likely” in which social distancing of at least 6 feet can’t be observed.
Exemptions to the ordinance would include outdoor or unenclosed areas adjacent to retail stores or food-service establishments in which social distancing of at least 6 feet is possible. Also exempted would be “people whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face covering,” those who can’t wear a mask because of a medical condition, children under 10 and restaurant customers “while they are dining.”
Also exempted would be private offices and places where it’s not possible to wear a mask, such as if you were getting dental work done.
The penalty outlined under the proposed ordinance would be “not more than $25.”
On June 30, Hartsville City Council voted to “strongly encourage” the use of face masks in public places.
