Several popular beaches along the Maryland and Delaware coast were closed to swimming last week after medical waste, including needles, washed ashore.
Swimming was banned at both state and federal beaches in Ocean City, Maryland, Fenwick Island, Delaware, and Assateague Island, which straddles Maryland and Virginia.
The Town of Ocean City said in a social media post last Sunday that their emergency services team was actively working on the discovery of medical waste recently found on the beach.
“To ensure the safety of all residents and visitors, the Ocean City Beach Patrol has temporarily closed the ocean to swimming, and we urge everyone to abide by this closure until further notice,” the post reads.
Ocean City Emergency Services Director Joe Theobold stressed the seriousness of the situation, not only because of the turbulence in the ocean Sunday, but because of potential health concerns posed by the trash.
“We will be working with the Worcester County Health Department and other public health officials to investigate the source of the medical waste,” Theobold said in a prepared statement. “Until we are confident the situation is under control, we recommend wearing shoes on the beach and avoiding going into the ocean altogether.”
On Tuesday, Theobald announced there was no medical waste on Ocean City's beach after a post-high tide cleanup. Still, swimming access was closed, and his department was working with the health department to test the water with a view to reopening it before the weekend.
Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan's office told Fox News Digital on Thursday that swimming is closed to swimmers due to rough ocean conditions, limited lifeguards and an abundance of caution as officials await water testing results.
The mayor's office said it hopes to have beaches reopened to swimmers by Friday.
The city said teams will continue to monitor the beach, remove debris and update the public as more information becomes available.
William Bretzger-Delaware News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK
In the town of Fenwick Island, just north of Ocean City, officials closed the beach to swimming because of the trash and urged anyone on the beach to wear shoes because the trash included needles. As of Thursday, the turbulent ocean continued to pose a threat to swimmers, though officials did not update on the town's social media channels whether medical waste was still an issue.
Fox News Digital reached out to Fenwick Island's town manager multiple times about the swimming spot closure but did not receive a response on the matter.
To the south, on Assateague Island, state and federal officials closed the beach for the same reason.
Assateague Island National Seashore announced the immediate closure, saying the north end of the island and all beaches on the Maryland side are closed to swimming. Assateague Island's beaches on the Virginia side are also closed to swimming and walking.
Maryland State Parks also announced their closures on social media.
“A large amount of medical waste is washing ashore at Assateague State Park, as well as other beaches along the Maryland coast,” the state parks department said. “Access to the ocean will be restricted at this time. Swimming, walking, surfing or any activity in the ocean is not permitted. Beach visitors should wear footwear and exercise extreme caution.”
