At a Regular City Council Meeting held on October 13, 2020, City of Hartsville City Council voted to extend the temporary ordinance requiring customers to wear face coverings in Hartsville to help combat the spread of COVID-19. This ordinance passed with a vote of 7-0 as all council members were in favor of continuing this precaution as a part of COVID-19 response. The original ordinance was passed on August 11, 2020 and proved to be successful in helping reduce COVID-19 numbers in Hartsville.

The ordinance outlines circumstances in which citizens are required to wear a face mask including:

  • All customers are required to wear face coverings 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 shall require staff who interact with customers (including delivery personnel) to wear face coverings while working.

The ordinance outlines specific exemptions in which face coverings are not required:

  • In outdoor or unenclosed areas connected to retail or foodservice establishments in which social distancing of at least six feet is possible and observed;
  • For people whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face covering;
  • For those who cannot wear a face covering due to a medical or behavioral condition;
  • For children under 10 years old;
  • For patrons of foodservice establishments while they are dining;
  • In private, individual offices;
  • When complying with directions of law enforcement officers;
  • In settings where it is not practical or feasible to wear a face covering, including when exercising, obtaining or rendering goods or services such as the receipt of dental services, or while swimming; and
  • While exclusively with members of a family or the same household, and no person other than such family or household is within the same enclosed are.

Any customer or employee of these establishments that is found in violation of this requirement shall be subject to a penalty of no more than $25. Establishments that are found in violation of this requirement shall be subject to a penalty of no more than $100. Each day of continuing violation shall be treated as a separate offense. This emergency ordinance has an end date of 60 days (December 11th) unless extended by City Council.