Potential Coronavirus Exposure At Wilmette Sailing Beach

WILMETTE, IL — Wilmette Park District officials Thursday announced an employee has tested positive for the coronavirus and the Gillson Beach season will be extended for about three additional weeks.

"With such an unusual start to summer, we hope that the addition of the season extension will allow season pass holders to maximize their time at the beach," park district officials said in a statement.

On Wednesday, district staff learned an employee at the sailing beach tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. The employee was last at work between 2 and 8 p.m. Monday and may have been contagious at that time, according to a statement from park district staff.

The beach is set to remain open, but all facilities and supplies related to the area of the sailing beach are being disinfected. District staff encouraged the public to monitor their own health if they may have been exposed to the infected staffer.

The decision to have a one-time extension to the beach season was made in response to the circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

The swimming beach and parking lot will be open for season pass and parking permit holders only, and the temporary fence at the South Beach is due to remain up until late in the fall, according to the district.

Last month, district staff erected the the fence because of a large number of visitors congregating in large groups and neglecting social distancing requirements.

During a postseason period from Sept. 8 to Sept. 27, there will be no lifeguards on duty at the swimming beach. Swimmers may swim at their own risk.

The prohibition on swimming at South Beach will be strictly enforced by park district staff and Wilmette police, according to the district. South beach is open only for walking, and congregating there is also forbidden.

The district's beach house will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the weekends during the new postseason period.