COVID-19, a highly contagious and deadly virus, has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and continues to pose a significant threat to county citizens.

The President of the United States declared a National State of Emergency as of March 13, 2020, and continuing through the present time, authorizing emergency federal funding and requiring that local emergency action plans be activated. 

Additionally, on March 13, 2020 and continuing through the present time, the Governor of South Carolina declared a State of Emergency for South Carolina ordering the State’s emergency operation plan be activated, and requesting the Legislature appropriate funding to combat the effects of the pandemic.

The Governor of South Carolina has continued to issue State of Emergency declarations and other orders related to the pandemic, including the encouragement of social distancing and face coverings.

As October 22, 2020, Georgetown County has experienced a total of 2,238 positive COVID cases resulting in 49 deaths. The State of South Carolina has experienced 166,357 positive cases resulting in 3,708 deaths. 

Georgetown County Council, believes an emergency continues to exist due to this world health event requiring the Council to take all necessary actions to ensure the safety, welfare, and health of its residents and visitors.

It is now well recognized that COVID-19 (caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2) spreads through localized person-to-person contact which presents a public health risk requiring extraordinary protective measures and vigilance.

On August 12, 2020 the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control released findings showing a 46.3% greater decrease in the total number of cases during a 4 week period for jurisdictions that implemented face covering ordinances while jurisdictions that did not adopt face covering ordinances experienced an average 30.4% increase in total cases during the same period.

Georgetown County Council deems that a State of Emergency continues to exist, and in an effort to protect and preserve the general welfare of its citizenry,  adopts Emergency Ordinance No. 20-55 to continue the local State of Emergency, and does so order that the requirement for the use of face coverings in certain situations shall remain in effect through December 8, 2020.