Beaches in Virginia will not reopen for more activities next week, the governor announced Friday —delivering a serious blow to businesses in Virginia Beach’s resort area who are watching Memorial Day weekend quickly approach.
“We want people to be able to return to our beaches,” Gov. Ralph Northam said during a news conference in Richmond, but he stressed they don’t yet have a date in place.
Northam added that he’s working with localities, including Virginia Beach, which he praised for recently putting together a plan for reopen its beaches.
“We wish we could have had better news,” Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said Friday afternoon.
The governor added that when he’s comfortable that a comprehensive plan can be in place, he will ease the restrictions on the beaches.
“The bottom line is consumers,” the governor said. “They need to feel comfortable that when they go back out to the beach whether when they grab hold of a handrail, or go down the steps, or are sitting with others or up on the Boardwalk, they need to feel comfortable that they are going to be safe.”
Beaches are currently only open for fitness activities and fishing.
The city is in the process of firming up rules for social distancing on the beach, training “ambassadors” to enforce the rules and a team to enact new cleansing efforts.
In recent weeks, Dyer has been pressing the governor to open the beaches soon.
“We have a plan that would provide this path for us,” the mayor said. “We’re moving forward.”
At a special meeting Thursday with the City Council, Dyer stressed the importance of having guidelines in place to keep beachgoers from swamping the Oceanfront.
He cited the recent closure of a beach area in Florida after thousands of people failed to follow social distancing and mask rules in that state.
“People want to come to the beach,” Dyer said. “We want them to come to the beach, but we have to put the rules in place to do it correctly.”
Deputy City Manager Ron Williams said more than 100 ambassadors would be ready by Memorial Day weekend to patrol the city’s beaches and seek voluntary compliance from visitors. They will begin initial patrols May 15.
“We’re standing up the team,” Williams said.
Shannon Moser of Lynchburg drove to Virginia Beach Thursday with a friend for some fresh air.
“It should be okay to open the beach,” she said. “We’re still going to be cautious.”
Councilman Guy Tower, who represents the resort area, said he believes the governor should reopen the beaches as soon as possible — particularly since Maryland reopened its this week and the Outer Banks will reopen next.
“We are starting with two strikes against us,” Tower said.
Now is crunch time, he added.
“Everyday we are bleeding money as a resort area,” he said. “This is not your usual ‘bad weather kind of weekend.’ This is a bad pandemic that’s going to be very difficult to make up. As soon as we can get open safely, the better.”
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
This is a developing a story. Please check back for updates.
