Myrtle Beach awaits tourists despite being 'hot spot' for covid-19 outbreaks

Bret Gibson
Wednesday, July 1, 2020 11:14 p.m. | Wednesday, July 1, 2020 11:14 p.m.

Christy Kasler (center) from Ohio enjoys a day at the beach while her daughter-in-law Cory plays with her grandson, Bentley, in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Across America, people are leaving their cares — and sometimes their masks — at home after months of worry about the virus as Southern states such as South Carolina open hotels and restaurants and, like Myrtle Beach, advertise ‘Yes, the beach is open!’

As the Myrtle Beach area braces for tourists to flock the Grand Strand this holiday weekend, a record high of covid-19 cases were announced Wednesday.

South Carolina health officials announced 228 new coronavirus cases in Horry County, along with 45 deaths.

Some new signage in the sand in Myrtle Beach...Coming at you live for @MSNBC from this popular tourist destination as they prepare for big Fourth of July crowds. Meanwhile cases are rising... pic.twitter.com/xya2VMzlnu

— Dasha Burns (@DashaBurns) July 1, 2020

On Tuesday, North Myrtle Beach’s city council voted to pass an emergency ordinance requiring that residents and visitors wear masks in all retail, service and food establishments.

The ordinance becomes effective at noon Thursday and lasts for 60 days. Myrtle Beach is voting on its mask ordinance the same day.

“I think the mask order is crucial, especially this weekend,” Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune told MSBNC. “You know, hindsight is 2020. Our hotels opened back up about four weeks ago; I wish we had done it then. But we didn’t have the same issues as we do today. So we are seeing increases in cases, and I think we have to do this tomorrow.”

The vacation mecca has been linked to outbreaks that have sickened nearly 200 people, mostly teens, in Virginia, NBC News reported.

The Virginia cases come as health officials in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky said they have clusters of cases linked back to travel from the beach.

Last week, a health advisory from the Kentucky Department for Public Health recommended residents who’ve recently traveled to Horry County self-quarantine.

“Myrtle Beach is an absolute hot spot and, if I were you, I would consider going somewhere else,” West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said this week.

Who's to blame for a spike in #coronavirus cases in #MyrtleBeach? Residents or tourists? Myrtle Beach's mayor shares her thoughts with me. pic.twitter.com/4cLSDrvfNp

— Donovan Harris (@donoharrtv) July 2, 2020

Bethune said she’s not blaming tourists, but she wants to see everyone, including residents, social distancing and wearing a mask.

“We all expected once we opened up, and people started coming from other areas, that we would see those (case) increases, and we certainly have,” Bethune said. “On the other hand, how do you keep things closed, and keep people out of work, when families have to pay their bills?”

Bret Gibson is a TribLive digital producer. A South Hills resident, he started working for the Trib in 1998. He can be reached at bgibson@triblive.com.