Coronavirus News: Many hit the beach on Labor Day amid fears of potential spike in NYC area

COVID-19 News and Information

Monday, September 7, 2020

Beachgoers making most of beautiful Labor Day weekend

Some Tri-State residents are trying to squeeze in one last beach day on Labor Day as the coronavirus looms large over the holiday.

CONEY ISLAND, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Some Tri-State residents are trying to squeeze in one last beach day as the coronavirus looms large over the holiday.

It was a picture-perfect day on Labor Day for those who wanted to hit the sand and the waves.

Unlike at the beginning of the summer when beaches quickly hit their capacity limits, at Jones Beach on Monday, it wasn't too crowded for those who were eager to enjoy the holiday.

At the Jersey Shore, many beaches are staying open longer which means Labor Day isn't the end of beach season, but one more chance to have some socially distant fun outside before the cold weather returns.

Toni Yates has a look at how people along the Jersey Shore are enjoying one of the last beach days of the year.

As many hit the beach, business owners mourned what would have been a typically busy weekend - while officials are warning people to stay safe over fears of a potential spike.

The Labor Day holiday weekend typically comes amid back-to-school preparations or with many kids already back in class, but COVID-19 has changed the paradigm.

School openings have been delayed, and both many municipalities in the Tri-State area have "extended" summer through September in an effort to help businesses recoup losses from their usual busy seasons.

That's the case in New Jersey and New York, where state beaches and many other will remain open and staffed with lifeguards through the month.

But in New York City, this is the last weekend to enjoy pools and beaches.

After that, the beaches revert to their off-season status with no lifeguards and advisories for people to stay out of the water.

City beaches span a total of 14 miles and include Orchard Beach in the Bronx; Coney Island and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn; Rockaway Beach in Queens; and Midland Beach, South Beach, Cedar Grove Beach, and Wolfe's Pond Park Beach on Staten Island.

On Long Island, the following local and state beaches will remain open through September:

--Smith Point Beach

--Cupsogue

--Meschutt Beach

--Nickerson Beach

--Jones Beach

Field 6 daily until September 20th

Field 2 weekends only (September 12&13 and September 19&20th)

Central Mall daily until September 20th

West Bathhouse Ocean weekends only (September 12&13 and September 19&20th)

--Robert Moses

Field 2 daily until September 20th

Field 3 daily until September 13th and the weekend of September 19th& 20th

Field 4 daily until September 13th and the weekend of September 19th& 20th

Field 5 daily until September 20th

--Sunken Meadow

Main Beach daily until September 20th

East Beach weekends only (September 12&13 and September 19&20th)

--Hither Hills

Daily until September 20th

--Wildwood

After Labor Day, weekends only (September 12&13 and September 19&20th)

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