Several popular beaches along the Maryland and Delaware coast were closed to swimming after medical waste, including needles, washed ashore last week. Swimming was prohibited at beaches that included Ocean City, Maryland, and Fenwick Island, Delaware, as well as both state and federal beaches on Assateague Island. In response, the Town of Ocean City’s emergency services team took action to address the situation and temporarily closed the ocean for swimming to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
Ocean City Emergency Services Director Joe Theobold emphasized the seriousness of the situation due to both Sunday’s rough seas and the potential health concerns posed by the medical waste. The department worked closely with the Worcester County Health Department and other public health authorities to investigate the source of the waste and recommended wearing shoes on the beach and avoiding the ocean entirely. Following a post-high tide cleanup that removed the medical waste, swimming access remained closed as water tests were conducted in the hopes of reopening before the weekend.
Officials in Fenwick Island, just north of Ocean City, also closed their beach to swimming due to the medical waste washing ashore. They advised those on the beach to wear shoes and noted the presence of needles in the waste. Despite rough seas continuing to be a hazard for swimmers, officials had not provided updates on whether the medical waste remained an issue. Similarly, beaches on Assateague Island were closed for the same reason, with Assateague Island National Seashore announcing the immediate closure of the north end of the island and all beaches on the Maryland side to swimming.
Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan’s office explained that swimming was closed due to rough surf conditions, limited lifeguards, and an abundance of caution while awaiting water test results. The hope was to have beaches reopened by Friday, with continued monitoring, debris removal, and public updates taking place in the meantime. Maryland State Parks also announced closures on social media, restricting access to the ocean and prohibiting swimming, wading, surfing, or any activities in the ocean due to the significant amount of medical waste washing ashore. Visitors were advised to wear shoes and exercise caution.
Despite the closures and restrictions in place, there were concerns about the ongoing hazard posed by rough seas and the prevalence of medical waste on the beaches. Officials acknowledged the need for continued monitoring and vigilance, both in cleaning up the waste that washed ashore and in ensuring the safety of residents and visitors to the affected beaches. Efforts were being made to investigate the source of the medical waste and to conduct water tests to determine when it would be safe to reopen the beaches to swimmers. Communication with the public remained key in providing updates and guidance on the situation.
