Updates on the County's Face Mask Ordinance 

Richland County Council adopted an emergency ordinance that took effect July 6, 2020, and requires people over 10 years old to wear face coverings while in most public places. This is in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis, which has prompted Gov. Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency.

At its meeting April 6, 2021, County Council extended the ordinance a fifth time. It is now scheduled to expire June 5.

Read the Ordinance Requiring the Wearing of Face Masks. 

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people wear face coverings in public settings, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around other people. Effective Feb. 2, 2021, masks are required on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation in the United States. 

Mask Distribution Events

Richland County has acquired and packaged thousands of disposable masks, which it continues to distribute at various locations on a first-come, first-serve basis. Find information on these giveaways by visiting the Events page or the County's Facebook page.  

• UPDATED: Richland County Councilmembers Jesica Mackey, District 9, Cheryl English, District, 10, and Chakisse Newton, District 11, are partnering with Richland Library to distribute more than 5,000 disposable face masks within their districts.
• Councilman Derrek Pugh, District 2, recently held a series of testing and mask giveaway events in Blythewood and the St. Andrews area. Residents could receive a free COVID-19 test, and face coverings were available first come, first serve. 
• Councilmember Allison Terracio is partnering with Richland Library to distribute 2,000 face masks within District 5. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/2IORtAa.

Previous County events

• Jan. 26: Councilman Pugh to Host COVID-19 Testing and Mask Giveaway Events
• Jan. 14: County Officials Join Other Community Leaders to Discuss COVID Vaccine Rollout
• Nov. 12, 2020: Councilwomen Myers, Newton to Give Away Masks in Southeast Richland on Fridays
• Nov. 3, 2020: Councilwoman Newton to Help Distribute Masks in Lower Richland
• Oct. 5, 2020: Richland County Adds Mask Distribution Events on Fridays (updated Oct. 28)
• Sept. 28, 2020: Councilperson Terracio to Help Distribute Masks in Five Points
• Sept. 23, 2020: County Councilwoman McBride to Distribute Masks at Census Event
• Sept. 14, 2020: Councilwoman Dickerson to Distribute Free Masks to Residents
   

A Richland County employee, right, hands out face coverings at a distribution event in 2020.

Public Health Updates and Useful Links

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Use Masks to Slow the Spread of COVID-19
• How to Make Masks

From the S.C. Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC)

• Use of Cloth Face Coverings
• Make an appointment to get the COVID-19 vaccine
• Find a COVID-19 testing location
• COVID-19: General info, downloads, links
• Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19: Flyer in English (PDF)
• Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19: Flyer en espanol (PDF)

Learn More 

• One-stop page for COVID-19 resources in Richland County
• Read or print a face mask FAQ
• Print a face mask brochure to use in your business

Local and Neighboring Ordinances

• Arcadia Lakes 
• Blythewood (PDF)
• Cayce
• Columbia
• Eastover (PDF)
• Forest Acres
• Irmo (PDF)
• West Columbia

Future updates to the ordinance will appear on this page, so check back often.