Beaches in three states remain closed to swimmers and waders due to trash, needles, syringes and other medical waste washing ashore.
Ocean-facing beaches in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia were largely closed early Sunday afternoon from Fenwick Island, Del., to Chincoteague, Va.
“We currently have no idea where it came from and will not be speculating about a source,” read a post on Facebook from the National Park Service. “Health authorities will be investigating.”
It is unknown how long closures will be in effect.
“We do not know how much more material is out there, when it will stop coming ashore and how long it will take for cleanup,” the post read.
According to multiple reports, less waste is washing up today.
The National Park Service’s Assateague Island National Seashore closed the following beaches:
- North end (all of the island north of Assateague State Park) is closed to all visitor access
- Assateague Island State Park Beach is closed to swimming and wading
- All oceanside beaches in Assateague Island National Park are closed to swimming and wading. This includes North Beach, Oceanside Camping Beach, South Beach, the beach on the Oversand Vehicle Area and the Chincoteague Public Beach.
For now, bayside remains open for kayaks, canoes and other water activities.
In Delaware, Dewey Beach also announced its closure Sunday due to the medical waste. An update on Monday said the ocean is “closed for swimming until further notice.”
“We recommend that the public avoid the ocean, and wear shoes while walking on the beach.”
Rehobeth Beach saw only one item wash ashore and is closed primarily due to rough surf.
Fenwick and Ocean City beaches and Renwick to the Indian River Inlet remain closed.
In Maryland, all beaches on the Maryland coast including Ocean City were closed Sunday until further notice due to a “significant amount” of medical waste.
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Crystal Graham
