From Ashley Hunter – City of Cayce Spokeswoman – Members of the Cayce City Council unanimously adopted an updated face covering ordinance at the Wednesday City Council Meeting.

Recent reports have shown that wearing a mask in public has decreased the chances of transferring the COVID-19 virus. A study done by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), states that “the jurisdictions with mask requirements have shown a 46.3% greater decrease in the total number of cases during the four weeks after the requirements were implemented.”

Additionally, to support teachers, students and school staff, City Council added the provisions from the SC Department of Education (SCDOE) and Superintendent Molly Spearman’s mandate for face coverings on buses and in public school facilities.

Cayce is the first local government to include the SCDOE mandate language in their face covering requirements for schools within the Cayce City Limits.

Mayor Elise Partin stated, “Wearing masks is working.  Including, in our ordinance, the important mandate from Superintendent Spearman is an added layer of protection for our Cayce students, teachers and all who work in our school settings.  For all of us, continuing to do a great job wearing masks is a wonderful way to support our students and teachers and keep them healthy and in school.”

BACKGROUND:

On July 7, the members of Cayce City Council voted to enact Ordinance 2020-19, which mandated that masks be worn in places open to the general public, within the City Limits. This ordinance has been in effect since July 10. At the time the original ordinance was passed, there were 46,247 confirmed COVID cases and 819 confirmed COVID-19 deaths in South Carolina. Five weeks later, as of  August 14, the total number of confirmed COVID cases was *104,841 and the number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths was 2,204. *While the numbers over the five weeks have more than doubled, the daily confirmed cases and COVID deaths have declined 46.3% in areas where local governments began mandating masks in public buildings.

Residents can make their own masks by following the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance on making cloth face coverings. You can find additional information by visiting the following CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-make-cloth-face-covering.html.

Stay up-to-date with the City of Cayce by visiting our website, caycesc.gov, and following the City on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For questions, please contact Spokesperson Ashley Hunter at [email protected].