OCEAN CITY, Md. — After asking visitors not to come to the beach, Ocean City officials have decided to close the beach and the boardwalk at 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Mayor and Council cited an increase in the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus throughout the state, and in Worcester County, for their decision.
The closure will remain in effect through April 15, 2020, at which time, it will be re-evaluated based on the status of the global health crisis. Restaurants on the boardwalk will be allowed to remain open for carry out service only.
“The number one priority of the Mayor and City Council is to protect our citizens and employees,” stated Mayor Rick Meehan. “We are facing an invisible threat and we are the carriers of this potentially deadly virus. At this time, we continue to request that visitors postpone traveling to Ocean City and that our non-resident property owners reframe from traveling to Ocean City as well. The safest place for everyone right now is in their own home.”
Only residents who reside within the corporate limits of the Town of Ocean will be allowed to walk their dogs or exercise on the beach or Boardwalk in groups of no more than two adults and children at any time. Social distancing will remain a requirement. This will remain in effect until which time it is abused or ignored.
“We are doing everything in our power to protect the health and safety of our citizens, but everyone has a critical role to play,” Mayor Meehan continued. “We all have to work together to do whatever we can to mount our only known defense against this common enemy and that is to practice extreme measures of social distancing. We are taking these drastic steps to shorten the duration of this health crisis. If every single person steps up and does their part by making sacrifices now it will slow the spread of this virus and help us flatten the curve.”
Further updates from the Town of Ocean City can be found at: www.oceancitymd.gov/covid19.
