Wrightsville Beach announced that they will be opening their beaches but with certain restrictions still in place.
North Myrtle Beach closed until April 21st. Photo taken by Liniz Johnson.
As of April 20, Wrightsville begins to allow people back on the beach but only those who plan on exercising.
According to a press release from the Town of Wrightsville Beach, “With the exception of East Salisbury Street, all access points and beaches will be opened for individual, non-stationary exercise activities to include only walking, jogging, swimming, and surfing/water sports.”
The press release mentions other specific restrictions including:
- No exercising in groups over 10 people
- No dogs allowed on beaches
- No equipment such as towels and chairs allowed on beaches
- Public restrooms will be closed
- No lifeguards will be on duty
Another way to keep the number of beach visitors low is to keep all public parking closed. So those who live within walking distance are able to walk on the beach or swim in the ocean.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster released a press release saying beaches can reopen under local authorities’ discretion just one day after the release of Wrightsville Beach’s press release.
Parking lots in North Myrtle Beach closed until April 21st. Photo taken by Linzi Johnson.
North Myrtle Beach took advantage of this, reopening everything on April 21. “During their April 20, 7:00 p.m. meeting, the North Myrtle Beach City Council passed a resolution
opening public beach crossovers and accesses, shower and bathroom amenities therein, and adjacent parking lots,” according to the press release.
Western Carolina student, Linzi Johnson, has decided to begin her summer break early by going to live with her grandparents at North Myrtle Beach, one of the beaches that chose to open up to the public.
“I was planning on going to stay with them over the summer and work there after I graduate. But since everything happened, I was able to start work at a grocery store early while doing online classes,” says Johnson.
Johnson explains that the beaches have become a lot more crowded than usual.
“Myrtle Beach is closed so everyone has to come up to North Myrtle if they want access to a beach,” Johnson said. For this reason, she and her grandparents have resorted to walks at night to avoid the crowds.
“I don’t agree with the beaches being open at all because at the moment, people don’t respect the rules that they are being asked to follow when it comes to social distancing,” says Johnson in regards to the beaches opening back up.
Other states, such as Florida, had their beaches reopened as early as April 17. With some beaches even allowing sunbathing and chairs on the beach as long as they are six feet apart.
While Georgia has opened beaches, which have caused backlash, they didn’t stop there. Gov. Kemp released a press release saying, “we will allow gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail care artists, estheticians, their respective schools, and massage therapists to reopen their doors this Friday, April 24, 2020.”
