From Ocean County:

MORE SHORE TOWNS ANNOUNCE BEACH CLOSINGS, RENTAL BANS AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS

AT THE URGING OF GOV. Murphy and local officials, more of Ocean County’s shore communities are tightening restrictions in order to improve social distancing as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the region.

Many towns, including Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant Beach and Lavallette already have closed their beaches and boardwalks.

“Governor Phil Murphy has made it clear that limiting or blocking ocean and beach access is under the jurisdiction of the local towns,” said Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari. “In this time of crisis, the county will support whatever our local communities deem necessary.”

Island Beach State Park and Barnegat Light State Park are open, but restrooms and buildings, including the lighthouse, are closed, as ordered by Gov. Murphy.

Other tourist destinations, including Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head and Long Beach Township are imposing bans or restrictions on rental properties.

Local leaders have repeatedly said that the influx of summer residents during the off season is putting a strain on local services.

“While tourism is Ocean County’s bread and butter, we do ask everyone to stay in their primary homes and not relocate to a summer house in Ocean County or anywhere else,” Vicari said. “Many of our seasonal restaurants and businesses are closed and do not have the staff or the supplies to cater to this sudden increase in population.”

Even grocery stores do not have the extra stock they would normally have during the summer, he said.

“The best way to take care of your family is to stay home and do not travel,” Vicari said.
Freeholder Gerry P. Little, liaison to the Ocean County Health Department, agreed and asked everyone to obey restrictions coming from all levels of government.

“To stop the spread of this virus and protect the health and wellbeing of our families and our neighbors we must all adhere to these extraordinary measures,” Little said. “By working together, we can protect all of our residents, especially the elderly and those with underlying health conditions who are most at risk of getting seriously ill.”

Towns with restrictions on beach or boardwalk access include:
• Bay Head: Beaches are closed
• Brick: All beaches and parks are closed.
• Island Heights: The scenic river boardwalk and all other public access areas are closed.
• Lavallette: Beaches and the boardwalk are closed.
• Long Beach Township: No dogs are allowed on bay beaches. Ocean beaches remain open.
• Mantoloking: Beaches are closed.
• Point Pleasant Beach: The Boardwalk and beaches are closed. Barriers have been installed at both inlet and Boardwalk parking lots. Jenkinson’s is also closed.
• Seaside Heights: All ocean and bay beaches are closed. The Boardwalk is also closed.
• Seaside Park: The boardwalk is closed. Ocean beaches remain open.
• Ship Bottom: All parks and bay beaches are closed. Ocean beaches are open.
• Toms River Township: Beaches and the boardwalk in the Ortley Beach section of the township are closed.

These towns have placed restrictions or are in the process of placing restrictions on rental properties:
• Brick: Banned all short-term rentals of 30 days of less.
• Bay Head: No rentals on Airbnb or similar online services.
• Beach Haven: All rentals of 21 days or less are banned thru May 1.
• Harvey Cedars: All rentals of 21 days or less are banned thru May 1.
• Lavallette: Has banned renting out homes on Airbnb and other online marketplaces.
• Long Beach Township: All rentals are banned.
• Point Pleasant Borough: Banning all Airbnb and vacation rentals
• Point Pleasant Beach: Local officials are drafting a resolution to place an immediate moratorium on the renting of all vacation homes and properties.
• Seaside Heights: The rental of homes and other residential units within the borough via AirBNB, VRBO and other online marketplaces is hereby prohibited.

For the latest updates on COVID-19 visit www.ocean.nj.us.

The statewide COVID-19 count is 25,590 cases and 537 fatalities,as of Thusday April 2nd, an increase of 3,489 cases and 182 deaths since Wednesday.

COVID-19 Cases by County
Data is provisional and subject to revision.

4,866 Positives Pending Further Information

4 Deaths Pending Further Information

Bergen County:

4,099 Positive Test Result(s)

120 Deaths

Essex County:

2,617 Positive Test Result(s)

99 Deaths

Hudson County:

2,270 Positive Test Result(s)

44 Deaths

Union County:

2,010 Positive Test Result(s)

34 Deaths

Middlesex County:

1,766 Positive Test Result(s)

48 Deaths

Passaic County:

1,750 Positive Test Result(s)

22 Deaths

Monmouth County:

1,458 Positive Test Result(s)

38 Deaths

Ocean County:

1,371 Positive Test Result(s)

38 Deaths

Morris County:

1,082 Positive Test Result(s)

40 Deaths

Somerset County:

549 Positive Test Result(s)

17 Deaths

Mercer County:

386 Positive Test Result(s)

4 Deaths

Camden County:

343 Positive Test Result(s)

6 Deaths

Burlington County:

294 Positive Test Result(s)

8 Deaths

Sussex County:

179 Positive Test Result(s)

7 Deaths

Gloucester County:

169 Positive Test Result(s)

2 Deaths

Hunterdon County:

130 Positive Test Result(s)

0 Deaths

Warren County:

116 Positive Test Result(s)

3 Deaths

Atlantic County:

50 Positive Test Result(s)

1 Deaths

Cape May County:

34 Positive Test Result(s)

0 Deaths

Cumberland County:

31 Positive Test Result(s)

1 Deaths

Salem County:

20 Positive Test Result(s)

1 Deaths