Beginning on October 30th, individuals in Horry County will no longer be required to wear a mask.
The Horry County Council voted 8 to 4 to end their mask mandate, as well as their current state of emergency.
Masks are still required in Myrtle Beach city limits. Businesses can also still require customers to wear a mask while at their establishment.
Those in favor of the mandate argued wearing masks could inevitably save lives and limit the spread of the pandemic. However, others argued there was little the county could do to enforce the mandate itself.
In an email forwarded to council members, Conway Medical Center CEO Bret Barr argued in favor of the mandate, highlighting the increasing number of cases that are “heading in the wrong direction and will soon become a skilled labor shortage issue if things don’t reverse.”
The council could issue a special meeting to vote on the mandate again within the next week or so.
Even though the mask mandate is set to end soon Horry County, officials are still suggesting the public wear them when necessary.