Governor McMaster recently called on local governments to enact mask ordinances to slow the spread of COVID-19. The Greenville Chamber endorses that call and asks Greenville County Council and local municipalities to take swift action.
The Upstate business community cannot afford another shutdown, and many businesses are still suffering from occupancy restrictions and other operational regulations. The chamber is committed to following expert guidelines to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Local health officials stated last week that they believe the City of Greenville’s mask ordinance has helped arrest the rapid spread of COVID-19 in our community. Broader mask requirements throughout our county would do even more to bring certainty to employers, employees, and customers. A broader requirement will protect our neighbors and bring back our economy.
The Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health believe 30 days of strict mask-wearing could dramatically reduce our COVID-19 spread. That would allow children to go back to school, allow businesses to fully re-open, and let the great joy of high school and college football (and all fall sports) to return.
The Greenville Chamber is asking local governments must act quickly. It believes the temporary inconvenience of a mask can have a major impact on our economic vitality and recovery for small businesses and the tens of thousands of employees trying to keep our economy running.
Prepared by McClain Lilly, Greenville Chamber.