Richland County extends face mask ordinance

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Richland County has extended its face mask ordinance for another 61 days and will be distributing about 67,000 disposable masks in the next few weeks.

On Monday, Richland County Council voted to extend the ordinance, passed July 6 and set to expire this week. The county also said it had recently acquired and packaged the masks, which will be distributed in packs of two on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We will be hosting several mask distribution events in the coming weeks to ensure residents have access to masks so we can help slow the spread of coronavirus in our community,” Richland County Administrator Leonardo Brown said in a news release.

Violations of the county ordinance (.pdf) can result in fines of to $25 for individuals or $100 for businesses.

“The County is working hard to ensure we are doing what we can to keep residents safe and informed during the pandemic,” Brown said. “The ongoing trend of positive cases of COVID-19 in the county make extending this ordinance vital to residents’ safety.”

During a Sept. 1 meeting, West Columbia City Council also extended its face mask ordinance until Nov. 1. 

Face coverings must be worn inside food service or retail establishments, medical offices and city buildings, and businesses where masks are required must post notifications of that requirement. Violations will result in a fine of not more than $25.