Op-EdAppeared in The State on June 14, 2020By Steve Johnson

We need to establish a new normal

As the owner of a small business that creates products to help businesses market themselves, I can tell you that South Carolina is still hurting. Despite the state’s recent reopening, people are afraid to come out to the local businesses they know and love.

We as a nation need to establish and embrace a “new normal,” one that is shaped by trust between businesses and customers. This can be achieved through the use of social distancing, masks, hand sanitizer and common sense. I and other business owners understand the fears that many have about establishing a new normal, but we must carry on.

The Paycheck Protection Program may help businesses like mine stay afloat, but it’s not a permanent solution. We need to do more than open up South Carolina; we need to establish a new normal.