MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — As some states blame COVID-19 outbreaks on Myrtle Beach, travel officials there say it’s all proof the virus has not left us and personal responsibility is an important part of staying healthy.
Myrtle Beach related COVID-19 cases in West Virginia topped 80 Wednesday. The cases are documented in Berkeley, Cabell, Fayette, Preston, Kanawha, Putnam, Greenbrier, Raleigh, Ritchie, Taylor and Mercer counties.
Gov. Jim Justice urged state residents this week to “think twice” about traveling there. Justice is also encouraging residents to get tested when they return.
Myrtle Beach Public Information officer Mark Kruea told MetroNews Thursday the city has given instructions to hospitality workers, installed signs encouraging masks and social distancing and used the local media to repeat the message over and over.
“One of the questions we have is are the visitors from other states practicing safe social distancing, were they wearing masks when they were here?” Kruea said. “We’re certainly recommending that, not just for our residents but for our staff and industries.”
Kruea said despite the messages across multiple platforms to follow the guidelines media surveys show many beach goers are not exercising personal responsibility.
“The local news media has certainly done some surveys on who’s wearing a mask and they found very few people are apparently wearing a mask,” Kruea said.
Kruea acknowledged the area is considered a hot spot. South Carolina health officials reported a growth of 125 COVID-19 cases Thursday.
“It’s a good wake up call that this illness is not over yet, we have not licked COVID yet,” Kruea said. “Everybody needs to continue those healthy things we’ve been recommending for the last four months.”
Kruea said the Myrtle Beach area is only about two percent of Horry County, South Carolina, where there have been more than 1,400 positive cases and 35 deaths.