Last Friday afternoon, Governor Henry McMaster lifted his “Last Call” order, which will allow bars and restaurants to resume their pre-COVID practices beginning Monday, March 1.  The order had previously forced them to stop selling alcohol by 11:00 pm and had been in place for more than seven months.
 
Governor McMaster also announced that approval by the Department of Commerce will no longer be necessary for events involving more than 250 people.  He and DHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer still encouraged South Carolinians to take appropriate safety precautions, including practicing social distancing and wearing face coverings when social distancing is not possible.

While approval for large events will no longer be required by the Department of Commerce, the Governor has recommended that organizers of large gatherings implement the following safety guidelines:

• Limit attendance of large gatherings to either 50% of the event space’s posted occupancy limit or fewer than 250 people
• All employees, customers, patrons, suppliers, vendors, visitors, or other people in attendance at a large gathering should wear a face covering

Organizers, operators, owners, or hosts of a large gathering shall take reasonable steps to incorporate, implement, comply with, and adhere to any relevant sanitation, “social distancing,” and hygiene guidelines established by the CDC, DHEC, or any other state or federal public health officials.