Irmo restaurants to reopen for outdoor dining, despite state order for takeout only
BY SARAH ELLIS
MAY 01, 2020 08:18 AM, UPDATED 35 MINUTES AGO
Gov. Henry McMaster issued a mandatory closure for in-house services in all restaurants and bars to combat COVID-19 outbreak. The closures will begin Wednesday, March 18, 2020. BY SOUTH CAROLINA ETV
Restaurants in Irmo will be allowed to reopen for outdoor dining beginning Friday after a unanimous vote by Irmo Town Council on Thursday.
The vote came despite a standing emergency order by S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster that bans restaurants and bars from “any kind of on-premises consumption in the state of South Carolina.”
McMaster has come under pressure in recent days to allow restaurants and other businesses to begin to reopen, even as the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths across the state continue to rise daily.
The state’s restaurant association has urged the governor to allow restaurants and bars to reopen with precautions on May 4, this coming Monday. McMaster said Thursday he plans to announce “soon” a decision on whether to reopen dine-in service.
As it stands, the governor’s order enacted March 18 allows businesses to sell food and beverages only for off-premises consumption, namely “via delivery, carry-out or drive-thru distribution, curbside pick-up, or alternate means.”
Outdoor dining at a restaurant’s property is not expressly addressed in the order.
Irmo’s town attorney apparently expressed reservations about reopening local restaurants ahead of a move by the governor, according to Councilman Erik Sickinger before the council vote.
“I have real concerns against contravening a governor’s order simply because we want to open up businesses,” Sickinger said. “That has nothing to do with my desire to get businesses open. If the governor said it’s up to each town, heck yeah, I’d be voting ‘yes.’ But that’s not what he said.”
However, Sickinger ultimately joined his fellow council members, who voted unanimously to allow restaurants within the town limits to open outdoor dining areas only in adherence with federal and state guidance for social distancing, which recommends 6 feet of space be kept between people to prevent the spread of the highly infectious coronavirus.
Irmo Mayor Barry Walker insisted the move does not contradict McMaster’s standing order and said he spoke with the governor earlier this week.
“We’re not going against the governor. We’re simply saying that it’s time to show some relief for our particular restaurants,” Walker said before the vote was taken. “Maybe we’re jumping the gun, but I’m willing to go on the record and say I’m willing to jump the gun for our citizens in our town of Irmo.”
Another councilman, Kelly Busch, said he had “waffled” with his decision for the past day before the vote but supported the reopening.
“One of the principles of living in America is people can make choices. And right now, we don’t have a choice,” Busch said. “We’re going to get a little bit ahead of it. Our businesses will have one weekend ahead to try to recoup some money.”
South Carolina has taken steps to reopen some businesses, including most retail stores, sooner than most other states. While state and local leader are contemplating reopening restaurants and other businesses to get the economy moving again, some other states and municipalities have extended lockdown orders and required people to wear face masks any time they leave their homes.
McMaster’s statewide “home or work” order, which urges residents not to leave their homes for purposes other than work or conducting essential business, is still in effect, as is an order limiting public gatherings to fewer than three people.
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