ALBANY – New York and other Northeast states will be opening beaches on Memorial Day weekend as part of the phased reopening efforts underway after coronavirus shutdowns.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday said the beach openings will happen on May 22 with social-distancing measures and other precautions in place to limit the spread of the virus.
New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware will also be opening beaches as part of the regional plan, Cuomo said. He added the regional approach was necessary because officials wanted to avoid people flooding into open beaches.
"We are one multi-state region. What one state does will affect other states," Cuomo said during a press briefing. "That is probably nowhere more clear than when it comes to opening beaches."
Some of the rules include New York beaches will only allow 50% of capacity. People must also bring masks and cover their faces if they can't maintain six feet of distance, Cuomo said.
Picnic areas, playgrounds and other gathering areas will remain closed at the beaches, as well as concessions.
"We don't want long lines of people waiting for concessions," Cuomo said, adding volleyball, football and other activities that violate social-distancing rules will also be banned on beaches.
Beaches at lakes and state parks will be part of the Memorial Day weekend opening plan in New York, Cuomo said, adding public pools will remain closed.
More: NJ beaches can reopen for Memorial Day, Gov. Phil Murphy says
Asked about the risk that beach openings could help spread the virus, Cuomo said he had worked on the regional plan with other governors.
"They were going to open beaches, and if New York did not open beaches you would see an influx of people to the Jersey Shore, Connecticut," he said. That would put New Yorkers in jeopardy...The problem is overcrowding."
He noted New York would close beaches if authorities found violations of social-distancing measures and other rules intended to prevent the spread of the virus.
David Robinson is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network.
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