Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune said during a city council meeting yesterday that she will extend the city’s emergency declaration which requires all tourists and residents to wear face masks.
Horry County voted to end it’s face mask requirement effective November 1st. The City of North Myrtle Beach says its face mask mandate could end December 4th or sooner.
The face mask ordinance requires residents and visitors to wear a cloth face mask at retail and food service establishments, as well as, in public spaces at overnight accommodations and other enclosed spaces.
Records from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) show no deaths in the month of October from Covid 19 for the zip code 29577, which is downtown Myrtle Beach.
Yet, multiple high profile shooting deaths in October occurred in that same area. This was the deadliest October in the city’s history for deaths by shootings.
During the first weekend of the month, the slaying of Myrtle Beach Police Officer Jacob Hancher made national news.
In fact, a front page downtown shooting occurred every weekend through October 17th.
A nationally broadcast oceanfront hotel shooting was followed by a shooting on Canal Street where two Myrtle Beach residents were shot dead.
Since October 4th, city residents have yet to receive a ballistics report from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) which would publicly clarify how MBPD Officer Jacob Hancher was killed.
A forensic ballistics is the examination of evidence relating to firearms at a crime scene, including the effects and behavior of projectiles and explosive devices. A forensic ballistics expert matches bullets, fragments, and other evidence with the weapons of alleged suspects or others involved in a case.
The City of Myrtle Beach continues to deal with public health safety issues on multiple fronts.