Hartsville extends face-mask ordinance another 2 months
With no debate, Hartsville City Council last week voted to extend its face-mask ordinance for another two months. At their Feb. 9 meeting, held from members’ homes via online video because of the COVID-19 threat, members quickly reauthorized the ordinance requiring that anyone in the city of Hartsville must wear a mask under certain circumstances. The original ordinance was passed in August 2020. The ordinance says, in part: — All customers must mask up while inside “the enclosed area of any retail establishment, foodservice establishment or city-owned buildings.” — All retail establishments “shall require staff to wear face coverings while working in areas open to the general public and at all times in which social distancing with other staff is not possible.” — All foodservice establishments must require staff who interact with any customers to wear face coverings while working. There are exemptions, including for people whose religious beliefs won’t allow them to use a face covering, for people who can’t mask up “due to a medical or behavioral condition,” for kids under 10, and for patrons of foodservice establishments while they’re eating. Also, council voted to continue its mutual-aid agreement between the Hartsville Police Department and the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office. With the departure of former Sheriff Tony Chavis and the beginning of new Sheriff James Hudson’s administration, a new agreement had to be authorized for legal reasons. — Bobby Bryant
