ADVERTISEMENT

People and politicians in the US are reacting very differently to the coronavirus pandemic—it all depends on the state you’re living in. South Carolina has recently come under fire after some people on Twitter shared photos of Americans who aren’t staying at home and are ignoring the social distancing advice. Scroll down to see just what the situation is like in some parts of the state.

According to The New York Times, there are currently 1,554 reported cases of the coronavirus and 31 deaths in South Carolina. However, the state still hasn’t issued a “stay-at-home” order, even though Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency. In other words, there are some mixed messages and some Americans still aren’t taking the situation seriously.

Sheriff Lee Boan from Kershaw County told Bored Panda that there are clear signs that South Carolina's Governor McMaster is "slowly tightening down" the state. "He has already closed nonessential businesses and has been encouraging citizens to stay home since the beginning. I feel we are already 60-70% into a stay home order. The stay home order is not far away." Scroll down for the rest of our interview with Sheriff Boan about the current situation in his county and in the state.

#3

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

J__Saks Report

Add photo comments
POST
meyowmix avatar
Colin L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Part of me says "I don't care if their ignorance gets them sick" but the rest of me screams "Stay Home! You entitled twatwaffles are endangering others and will overwhelm the hospitals!"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

According to Sheriff Boan, people who don't adhere to social distancing guidelines can be fined or even get jail time. "SC Section 16-7-10. It carries a $100 fine and up to 30 days in jail. We are dispersing crowds as we see them. Citizens are getting better. It is a major culture change for us all to stay away from each other. But, we are all getting better at it."

The Sheriff told Bored Panda that he and his colleagues are doing well. "No deputies at my department have been infected with COVID-19. We have had as many as 6 deputies out on quarantine due to 'indirect contact.' They were around someone who was around someone with coronavirus."

#4

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

iflydca Report

Add photo comments
POST
meyowmix avatar
Colin L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"But sunlight kills coronavirus!" Get it through your heads: it is infectious as hell, not everyone shows symptoms, and it is deadly to seniors (and not fun for other folks as well).

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

Brandy Nicole Report

Add photo comments
POST
meyowmix avatar
Colin L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Rates of infection are doubling in most regions every 2 to 3 days. This is why.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

"We are well staffed now with all of our School Resource Officers (SRO), court deputies, and civil process deputies now assigned to patrol. We have more deputies on patrol now than we have ever had. We haven’t had the need to work over-time yet. But, we are prepared to do so. We also have some deputies that have volunteered to be reserve ambulance drives in the event that our EMS partners get understaffed."

Sheriff Boan said that he believes they are in the "calm before the storm" and haven't been hit hard. "Yet," he added.

#7

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

Crowds gather on the beach Friday afternoon near 65th Ave. N. in Myrtle Beach

joshvbell Report

Add photo comments
POST
meyowmix avatar
Colin L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A state without a lockdown now is like having a s&*tting section of the public pool.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

Governor McMaster has closed state parks and prohibited the public from going to beaches and lakes. He also ordered non-essential businesses, like hair salons and gyms, to close. All public schools are also shut down and students are learning via the internet from home.

Finally, the governor asked all citizens to stay at home. However, some South Carolina lawmakers think that this isn’t enough to suppress the spread of Covid-19 without an official “stay-at-home” order. People still can (and do!) leave their homes for any reason whatsoever, not just for essential trips to the grocery store, the pharmacy, or to take care of loved ones.

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

SusieBerber Report

South Carolinian Republicans and Democrats are coming together and urging McMaster to issue the order. “I don’t understand why he hasn’t taken that step and told the citizens under the force of law you must stay at home,” Democrat Seth Rose expressed his frustration, considering that South Carolina’s neighbors North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida have all issued “stay-at-home” orders of their own.

“We should not be recommending you stay home unless you want to go out,” Rose added.

Meanwhile, Sheriff Boan also had this to say to people to make sure they’re social distancing: “It’s better to stay six feet apart now than to be six feet under later.” If that doesn’t get you to rethink going outside for no reason, can anything?

ADVERTISEMENT
#15

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

JeanneLurvey Report

Add photo comments
POST
sonjaskates avatar
Snowy Tundra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am really resenting this state and governor on behalf of all the exhausted medical people who will have to go to SC to supplement the state's medical people when they get overwhelmed with all the sick people who ignored the strongly worded suggestions to stay home. Argh!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

Crowds on the beach near 14th Ave. Pier

joshvbell Report

Add photo comments
POST
elainemattingly avatar
Elaine Mattingly
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Get back over here where you'll be safe Grandpa and Ma, don't wander off. Safty in numbers.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

Tl332 Report

Add photo comments
POST
meyowmix avatar
Colin L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is where the lie of "this is 6 inches long" gets people killed. Really, really not 6 feet people...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

theraybergman Report

Add photo comments
POST
hazelree avatar
Stille20
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

..that being said, isn't this person at lowes? maybe just driving by?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

A northbound look down the beach from the Cherry Grove Pier

joshvbell Report

Add photo comments
POST
hazelree avatar
ergosum100 avatar
Jean Hendrickson
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

They don't look like mostly elderlies. A few are, but look closely. They are primarily young and beautiful- ies.

Load More Replies...
eeyore163_1 avatar
Heather Menard
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they are more then six feet apart and the groups of people are friends so they have a choice to be with them or not

robseymour avatar
Rob Seymour
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They're all sitting in small groups. If they are families then I dont see an issue.

alohafarmsinc avatar
Susan Urbanczyk
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Heck I'm immunocompromised and I see nothing wrong with this. Plenty of room to be six feet away. The groups? Their choice.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

joshvbell Report

#23

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

GoitzG Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#25

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

VLOHokie Report

Add photo comments
POST
meyowmix avatar
Colin L
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder how many people need to die from their ignorance for them to feel ashamed.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

Go home Greenville County residents! Cleveland, SC March 28, 2020

bethaashley Report

#27

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

Yesterday at folly beach, we had to leave because we couldn’t stay 6 feet away from the 20-somethings on the beach

aleciastevensdesign Report

Add photo comments
POST
s_l_high0 avatar
sh
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, you're basically about as bad as them since you were also at the beach.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

Beach visitors fill the parking lot at the Cherry Grove Pier Friday afternoon

joshvbell Report

#30

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

joshvbell Report

Add photo comments
POST
michellemorgan avatar
Michelle Morgan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What about places of work that are still open and it’s not essential that they have to be open.#mcmastersshutscdown#somescpeoplearesocialdistancing#wewouldstayathomeifwecould

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

Social-Distance-South-Carolina-Pics

GQCOP45 Report

Add photo comments
POST
spicyboones avatar
EtherealSponge
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Technically they are spread out at least 6 feet apart? Assuming the smaller clumps are related people. Further back thought there are long stretches of people.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda