UPDATED: Beach Warning from Chincoteague to Fenwick Island & Dewey Beach for Medical Waste Washing Up on Beaches

September 16, 2024/Mari Lou

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Posted on Facebook – syringe on the beach at 31st Street in Ocean City / Image courtesy Melissa Ann

UPDATED – 09/16/24 – Beach area closures in Maryland – Ocean City & Assateague State Park.  In Delaware – Fenwick Island & Dewey Beach. 

Update on Virginia Closures from Assateague Island National Seashore: 

The Chincoteague Public Beach in the Virginia unit has been added to the Closure List. All Ocean Facing Beaches at Assateague Island National Seashore are now closed to swimming or wading due to medical waste coming ashore.
A rundown of current closures:
1) North end (all of the island North of Assateague State Park) is closed to all visitor access
2) Assateague Island State Park Beach is closed to swimming and wading
3) All Oceanside Beaches in Assateague Island National Park are closed to swimming and wading. This includes North Beach, Oceanside Camping Beach, South Beach, the beach on the Oversand Vehicle Area and the Chincoteague Beach.
All Campgrounds, trails, boardwalks, visitor centers, etc. remain open. Bayside remains open for kayaks, canoes and other water activities (at least for now).
 
Answers to some FAQs:
1) The debris is trash with a large component of medical waste, which includes syringes and needles.
2) We believe it started to come ashore this morning, so those who were in the water on earlier days should have nothing to worry about.
3) We currently have no idea where it came from and will not be speculating about a source. Health authorities will be investigating.
4) We do not know how long the closures will be in effect. We do not know how much more material is out there, when it will stop coming ashore, and how long it will take for cleanup.
5) For those offering to help, Thank You-at this point we do not know what help would be necessary, but will keep the public advised.
6) This is part of a larger area problem-with closure from Fenwick Island to Chincoteague.
Thank you for your patience-Updates will continue as things change or we get more information.

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ORIGINAL POST – 09/15/24 – Beaches throughout Delmarva have been closed after medical waste began washing up at the shoreline. Maryland State Parks officials were the first to put out an alert for access to the ocean to be restricted and that beach visitors should wear shoes and use an abundance of caution. Visitors in Ocean City began posting pictures of syringes found at the shoreline and city officials there also closed the beach to swimming, followed by officials in Fenwick Island and the Assateague Island National Seashore. Dewey Beach officials have also closed the beach there to swimming as well.

As of Sunday evening, Rehoboth Beach officials tell the Talk of Delmarva that there have been no reports of medical waste on the beaches there. 

If you go to the beach – use caution and wear shoes – and keep your pets off the beaches as well. It’s not known where the medical waste is coming from, however stormy seas offshore and strong winds are possibly a part of the issue.

Maryland State Parks posted the following on their Facebook page:

Assateague State Park, along with other beaches along the Maryland coast, is experiencing a significant amount of medical waste washing onshore. Access to the ocean will be restricted at this time. No swimming, wading, surfing, or any activities in the ocean are permitted. Visitors to the beach should wear shoes and use an abundance of caution.

People in Ocean City have also posted pictures of syringes and other waste on the beach there as well. Ocean City officials have temporarily closed the ocean to swimmers. 

Ocean City Emergency Services is actively addressing the recent discovery of medical waste that has washed up on our beaches. To ensure the safety of all residents and visitors, Ocean City Beach Patrol has temporarily closed the ocean for swimming, and we urge everyone to adhere to this closure until further notice.



Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald stresses that this situation is serious, especially given the combination of rough seas and the current health concerns. “We will work closely with the Worcester County Health Department and other public health authorities to investigate the source of the medical waste,” Theobald stated. “Until we are confident that the situation is under control, we recommend wearing shoes on the beach and avoiding the ocean entirely.”



Ocean City officials will continue monitoring the beach, removing debris, and updating the public as we gather more information. Your cooperation is crucial in helping us keep our beaches safe. Please monitor the official Town of Ocean City Government social media channels for further updates.

And from Fenwick Island:

ALERT—Fenwick Island beach is CLOSED FOR SWIMMING due to medical waste washing on shore. It you are on the beach, please be aware of your surroundings and wear shoes as the waste includes needles.

Assateague Island National Seashore:

Immediate Closures!
Due to Medical Waste on the Beach the following closures are in effect at Assateague Island National Seashore:
1) The North End is closed to all visitation
2) All Beaches in the Maryland District are closed to swimming and wading
3) Visitors on the Beach are encouraged to keep their shoes on
Assateague Island State Park also has a Beach Closure in effect.
This closure does not yet effect Beaches in the Virginia Unit, we will keep you posted on changes as they develop.
Dewey Beach has closed the ocean to swimming out of an abundance of caution
The Town of Dewey Beach is actively addressing the recent discovery of medical waste that has washed up on our beaches. Out of an abundance of caution, the ocean has been temporarily closed for swimming until further notice. We will update our community as the situation progresses.

 

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