Several popular beaches along the Maryland and Delaware coasts were closed to swimming last week after medical waste, including hypodermic needles, washed up on shore.
Swimming was prohibited at beaches in Ocean City, Maryland; Fenwick Island, Delaware; and state and federal beaches on Assateague Island, which straddles Maryland and Virginia.
The City of Ocean City said in a social media post last Sunday that the city's emergency services team is actively working through a recent discovery of medical waste that washed up on shore.
“To ensure the safety of all residents and visitors, Ocean City Beach Patrol has temporarily closed swimming areas. We ask everyone to abide by this closure until further notice,” the post read.
Ocean City Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald stressed the seriousness of the situation, not only because of Sunday's rough seas, but also the potential health hazards posed by the waste.
“We are working closely with the Worcester County Health Department and other public health officials to investigate the source of the medical waste,” Theobald said in a prepared statement. “We encourage people to wear shoes on beaches and avoid going into the water until we are confident the situation is under control.”
On Tuesday, Theobald said Ocean City beaches were clear of medical waste after a high tide cleanup, but swimming remains prohibited and his department is working with the health department to test the water and hopes to reopen before the weekend.
Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan's office told Fox News Digital on Thursday that there were rough waves, limited lifeguard presence and no swimming allowed as a precaution as officials wait for the results of water quality tests.
The mayor's office added that they hope to reopen beaches to swimmers by Friday.
The town said crews will continue to monitor the beach, remove debris and update residents 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 beaches to swimming due to the waste, noting that the waste also includes hypodermic needles, and urged all beachgoers to wear shoes. As of Thursday, rough seas remained hazardous for swimmers, but officials had not said on the town's social media channels whether medical waste was still a problem.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Fenwick Island mayor multiple times about the swimming ban but did not receive a response on the matter.
Further south, on Assateague Island, state and federal officials closed beaches for the same reason.
Assateague Island National Seashore has announced an immediate closure, with all beaches on the north end of the island and on the Maryland side of the island closed to swimming. Beaches on the Virginia side of Assateague Island are also closed to swimming and wading.
Maryland State Parks also announced the closures on social media.
“Assateague State Park, like other beaches along the Maryland coast, has experienced significant amounts of medical waste washing up on its shorelines,” the state parks department said in a statement. “Ocean access is restricted at this time. Ocean swimming, wading, surfing and any other activity is prohibited. Beachgoers should wear proper footwear and exercise caution.”
