Sumter County Council members are asking residents to wear masks in public, but they are not requiring people to do so.
A resolution "urging" residents to wear face coverings when in public in the county was passed during a public meeting Tuesday. The resolution passed 6-1 with no discussion and Councilman Eugene Baten voting in opposition. In public generally means inside retail and food service establishments and may extend to inside municipal-owned facilities.
This is a continuing effort on the county's part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and in hopes to eventually reopen Sumter County government buildings to the public, which have been physically closed for months.
Sumter County Administrator Gary Mixon said the buildings will remain closed because there have been reports of positive COVID-19 cases within the county government.
They will reopen when it feels safe to do so for the public's health.
WHERE ARE MASKS REQUIRED IN THE TRI-COUNTY AREA?
Municipalities that have passed mandates
City of Bishopville
City of Manning
City of Sumter
Municipalities that have passed non-binding resolutions
Clarendon County
Lee County
Sumter County
Town of Mayesville
Town of Paxville
Municipalities that have passed neither
Town of Pinewood
Town of Summerton
Town of Turbeville
Kayla Green and Sharron Haley helped gather information for this report.
