Mask mandate: one month in

On July 8, the Fort Mill Town Council's mask mandate went into effect. It requires that, if you're inside a government or commercial building, you have to wear a mask/bandanna/etc. that covers your nose and mouth. Failure to comply will get you a warning, then a $25-100 fine, although since businesses aren't actually required to uphold the mandate, it's pretty unlikely that anyone has actually experienced consequences. Now that it's been in place for a month, it's about time to see how that's working. 

Here's what we know:

• Only employees are actually required to wear a mask when outside
• Nobody is actually required to enforce the rules
• This mandate probably would have come much sooner, had Governor McMaster not previously refused to issue an order*

Since customers are not required to wear them outside, and employees aren't required to turn away customers not wearing them inside, the mandate is somewhat of a joke. People are eating out in Baxter, only covering their mouths (but not noses) with masks, and Miller Street students are continuing to dance—breathing heavily and coming into close proximity with each other—without masks. 

This, of course, is not to deny the efforts many have been making to stay at home, correctly social distance, and the like, but it would appear that the mask mandate has not effected much. If things are opening again, our town seems to believe that things are safe again, which simply isn't the case. 

So little is being done to enforce this so-called mandate, so those who are following the guidelines were likely already doing so months before the Town Council issued its order. All in all, it seems to be too little too late. 

* As of July 29, McMaster has since issued a "targeted mask order."