Health Official Warns Against High School 'Beach Week' Activities

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD – Local health officials are asking parents and their students to continue adhering to social distancing guidelines and coronavirus mitigation efforts as Memorial Day approaches.

In a video posted to the Montgomery County Government Facebook page, Dr. Travis Gayles, county health official, reminded residents of the public guidelines that are still in place, such as physical distancing, going out only for essential needs, and wearing a cloth face covering when in public.

"While all of us want to go to the beach and have barbecues, I encourage you to stay home," Gayles said.

Gayles also advised residents not to gather in groups more than 10, per the governor's statewide requirements.

"If we don't remain vigilant, we risk undoing the progress we have made since March," he said.

Beach Week is a rite of passage for many high school seniors in Montgomery County, but Gayles is urging parents not to let their high school students go to the beach this year.

"Instead, find other ways to mark the end of their high school careers – options that are safe and that keeps them and all of us healthy," he said. "We will get through this together, we just have a little more work to do."

Montgomery County officials on Wednesday discussed a phased reopening for the county and said the most recent trends in new cases, deaths and hospitalizations are optimistic, but not yet where they need to be to begin reopening.

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