By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – Mayor Jay Gillian and members of Ocean City Council said they do not have the authority to close the island resort’s bridges to stop people from coming onto the island during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cape May County has reported 116 positive test results for the unique coronavirus and fourth deaths – three in a long-term care facility in North Cape May and one in Upper Township.
As of Thursday, April 9, the Cape May County Department of Health said there are seven active cases in Ocean City and that two people are now off quarantine on the island.
On Tuesday, the mayor wrote in his address to the community that people have asked him to close the bridges to the community to prevent outsiders from potentially spreading the COVID-19 virus in the resort, but that he cannot do so.
On Thursday evening, city council members echoed that view.
“I hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected during these trying times. I fully understand the sacrifices we all are making and the fear of what may lie ahead,” Gillian wrote.
“Many of you have asked me to close the bridges. I do not have that authority. I have worked with City Council to close the beach, boardwalk, public buildings, parks and recreational facilities. These actions all make it easier to follow the governor’s strict orders to shelter in place and eliminate nonessential travel,” he added.
“My responsibility as mayor is to do everything within my power and within the law to protect the people of our community. Your responsibility is to follow the directives issued by the governor and public health experts to slow the spread of the pandemic. That’s it.”
The mayor then asked for the community to work together.
“Now is not the time to point fingers and to blame others. It’s a time to work together. If we spend our energy scorning our neighbors, we will leave scars that will last much longer than coronavirus,” Gillian wrote.
“I ran for mayor under a platform of ‘Unity in the Community,’ and I believe in that now more than ever. The virus has spread throughout the state and has been in Ocean City for weeks now. That’s why it’s absolutely imperative for everybody to continue to stay at home, practice social distancing and follow all other recommendations. Let’s look out for each other – from safe distances – as we get through this together.”
