More restrictions eased on businesses, beaches
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
There are more ways the COVID-19 restrictions are loosening with beaches opening, curbside service allowed at non-essential businesses and more unfettered construction, although construction never seemed to stop in Ocean City.
Mayor Leonard Desiderio said effective Saturday morning, May 16, the beaches will be open in his community for regular use, but beach-goers are expected to continue to follow social distancing by staying six feet apart “as much as possible.
As of Thursday morning, the City of Ocean City had posted changes to its COVID-19 guidelines about limiting use of the beaches to access and active recreation. It said as of Saturday, “full access to all beach activities will open on Saturday, May 16. Please avoid social gathering and respect social distancing guidelines.”
Last week, the mayor said he works with Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian and Upper Township Mayor Richard Palombo so all three communities in northern Cape May County would have a unified approach.
“It’s critically important that everyone respects these guidelines so that all can enjoy Sea Isle’s greatest natural asset,” Desiderio said Wednesday in his coronavirus update on the city’s web site. He reminded beach-goers that the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol won’t be on duty until Saturday, May 23.
“While much of our region and country works to re-open, we still have far to go,” he wrote. “It has become clear that outdoor activity, done with respect for each other’s space, is beneficial not only to our residents’ physical health, but also their mental health. This is one part of the gradual reopening of our City. In the coming days, I expect to have more news as we work with our county and state partners. “
He is expected to join Gov. Phil Murphy at the governor’s daily press conference today at 1 p.m. “for
additional announcements regarding shore communities. As always, we will keep you informed as soon as we have new updates.”
On Wednesday, the governor announced three more steps in easing the pandemic lockdown, including allowing non-essential retail stores to reopen for curbside pickup only beginning at 6 a.m. Monday. A similar idea was contained in the Cape May County task force’s recent proposal to the governor.
The governor also permitted drive-through and derive-in events under social distancing guidelines and is allowing the restart of non-essential construction as of 6 a.m. Monday.
That point may be hard to notice in Ocean City, where construction had been continuing throughout the resort. That is because the former orders limiting construction allowed for many exceptions, including on private dwellings that were already under construction.