Weather is slated to be reminiscent of summer this weekend, but the Georgia Department of Natural Resources reminded Georgians that the sunny skies don't outshine the social distancing rules in place at Georgia beaches.
The DNR issued an order that extends a few beach restrictions until Wednesday (May 6) despite all Georgia beaches now being open.
DNR Sgt. Mark Carson offered some clarity to news station WTOC on Friday about the rules that are still in place via the order.
Now that the shelter-in-place and certain restrictions have been lifted, citizens can swim, play in the sand and lay out on towels. However, Carson said, they are still checking to make sure people do not bring chairs, tents, umbrellas and coolers. Social distancing guidelines are also in effect on the beaches.
DNR game wardens will proceed with beach patrol to ensure beachgoers follow the guidelines.
On April 3, some of the state’s most popular beaches reopened due to Gov. Brian Kemp’s statewide order superseding that of some city-level shelter-in-place mandates. Several coastal mayors expressed concern about Kemp’s order to reopen beaches at the time.
Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions warned the governor in an April 3 email that reopening the beaches would deal a “devastating blow” to safety efforts from the town of roughly 3,000 people.
“With Jekyll Island, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida beaches closed, the influx of residents and visitors on our 2.5 mile beach will create a severe health crisis, and chaos in trying to maintain social distancing,” she wrote Kemp.
“No one wants to walk on the beach more than I, however I firmly believe it is a small sacrifice to pay in the long run to help conquer this COVID-19 enemy.”
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