“I believe one thing has to provide slightly bit and it has to start out someplace,” mentioned Chuck Niglio who owns a trip house.
Social distancing indicators are up on the seashore in Ocean Metropolis, Maryland forward of it opening tomorrow. @wjz #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/bZXMBWmHwr
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) May 8, 2020
Indicators have been positioned warning individuals to social distance.
Ocean Metropolis Mayor Rick Meehan mentioned earlier this week police will not be going to be checking the driving force’s licenses of out-of-town guests, however famous the governor’s stay-at-home order remains to be in place.
“We’ve got to look to individuals to do the proper factor. The governor’s order, in case you have a look at that, most individuals have complied,” Mayor Meehan mentioned Tuesday.
Ocean Metropolis’s mayor says they won’t be checking license plates—and doesn’t imagine opening seashores this weekend violates the governor’s stay-at-home order. Extra from his digital press convention this morning⬇️. @wjz #OceanCity pic.twitter.com/C4Y9b89wcd
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) May 5, 2020
Whereas police tape blocked entrances to the dunes, and indicators warned individuals the seashore and boardwalk remained closed, a number of individuals ignored that on Friday.
CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:
Nonetheless, many residents mentioned they imagine the mayor made the proper name to reopen the seashore now.
“Individuals are getting excited. They’re not going to need it shut again down on them so let’s maintain our fingers crossed,” Jeff Robinson advised WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren. “I positively suppose Ocean Metropolis is prepared. There’s no query.”
Jessica Macias mentioned she helps a gradual reopening and he or she hopes it would assist small companies.
“As the general public, they need to know by now to remain six ft aside,” she mentioned. “This place means so much to me and I don’t wish to see any of our companies shut down.”
Bruce Krasner runs the T-Shirt Manufacturing facility, a sequence of retailers. He mentioned he was fortunate to get assist from the paycheck safety program and has not laid off any staff, however he worries about how lengthy his enterprise can final underneath these circumstances.
He should stay closed, and the opening of the boardwalk doesn’t assist him.
“I personal a number of shops in numerous cities and it has been devastating. There’s no enterprise. We’re down 80 p.c,” Krasner advised Hellgren.
“I’ve been on this seashore for 40 years. It could be a disgrace if I didn’t survive this. It may go that manner. It’s very potential. Even when it’s a superb summer season, it’s not going to make up for the 80 p.c that we’re down. In my wildest goals, I couldn’t have imagined this,” he added.
The close by Delaware seashores stay closed and no resolution has been made on when they may reopen.
Inns and short-term lodging leases in Ocean Metropolis stay closed to everybody besides important staff.
For the newest data on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department’s website or name 211. You could find all of WJZ’s protection on coronavirus in Maryland here.
