WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS/WBOC)- Beach bars in Delaware have been ordered to close ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Gov. John Carney made the announcement Tuesday afternoon and signed an executive order that would close beach bars, effective at 8 a.m. Friday, July 3. The decision comes after an spike in COVID-19 cases in the beach resort areas of the state.
Under the Governor's Twenty-First Modification of Delaware's State of Emergency and the Phase 2 Reopen Plan, taprooms, brewpubs, and restaurants in the following towns and/or zip codes are not permitted to have customers sit or stand at the bar.
This applies in the towns of Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Long Neck, Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, West Fenwick Island, Ocean View, Millville and/or the following zip codes: 19966 east of Rt. 24 and Rt. 5; 19945 east of Rt. 17; 19975 east of the intersection of Rts. 20 and 54, and the entirety of 19944, 19967, 19970, 19930, 19971, and 19958.
Carney also said that Delaware will not move into phase three of reopening until case numbers are brought back down.
Under phase three, large venues and restaurants would operate under limited physical distancing protocols.
Data show the highest number of infections is now seen in people between the ages of 18 and 34. Carney said it is vital that people not get complacent about restrictions, including wearing face coverings in public, limiting the number of trips outside the home and maintaining social distancing.
The governor also said too much is at stake in getting the virus under control.
WBOC media partner Delaware State News reported Tuesday that state health officials say a lack of social distancing and the lack of face coverings on the beach and the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk is a continued concern, along with photos and reports of restaurant servers without face coverings.