Ocean City beach

(Photo: AP)

OCEAN CITY, MD - Ocean City officials have announced the reopening of the Town’s coastal waters to swimming following days of closure due to medical waste being found ashore.

Ocean City, along with other coastal towns, closed the ocean to swimming on September 16th after medical waste including needles was found on beaches from Delaware to Virginia.

According to the Town, Ocean City Emergency Services and the Worcester County Health Department and Environmental Programs have conducted thorough testing of the water and observed normal results.

High tides and several days of beach sweeping have also resulted in no further waste washing ashore, Town officials say. 

“We are confident that it is now safe to reopen the ocean for swimming and surfing,” Ocean City said in a statement Friday. While the source of the waste is still unknown, we will continue to work in coordination with agencies from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.”

Town officials remind beachgoers of the importance of swimming in front of lifeguards and only when lifeguards are present.

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