Gov. McMaster Orders Non-Essential Businesses Closed Throughout State

Gov. Henry McMaster ordered the closing of non-essential businesses throughout the state to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Among entertainment venues and facilities that will be closed beginning April 1 and for at least 15 days are:

• Night clubs
• Bowling alleys
• Arcades
• Concert venues
• Theaters, auditoriums, and performing arts centers
• Tourist attractions (including museums, aquariums, and planetariums)
• Racetracks
• Indoor children’s play areas (excluding daycare facilities)
• Adult entertainment venues
• Bingo halls
• Venues operated by social clubs.

Among recreational and athletics facilities and activities to be closed are:

• Fitness and exercise centers and commercial gyms
• Spas and public or commercial swimming pools
• Group exercise facilities, to include yoga, barre, and spin studios or facilities
• Spectator sports
• Sports that involve interaction with another person in close proximity and within less than six (6) feet of another person
• Activities that require the use of shared sporting apparatus and equipment
• Activities on commercial or public playground equipment.

Service providers to be closed are:

• Barber shops
• Hair salons
• Waxing salons
• Threading salons
• Nail salons and spas
• Body-art facilities and tattoo services
• Tanning salons
• Massage-therapy establishments and massage services.

McMaster said if a business has a question as to whether it qualifies as essential, it should complete a business clarification form on the South Carolina Department of Commerce website.

Questions also can be sent to covid19sc@sccommerce.com, or business representatives can call 803-734-2873.

A team from South Carolina Department of Commerce will review the business’s request for clarification, and the business will receive a response with their determination, essential or non-essential, within 24 hours, McMaster said.

If a business is not explicitly addressed in the governor's executive order, the business should continue normal operations until a determination is made, the governor said.