Virginia Beach Is Reopening Just In Time For The Weekend

As warm weather rolls in, thoughts of sinking your toes into the sand at your favorite shoreline might be coming to mind. After waiting nearly two months for the opportunity to finally hit the beach again, you can mark your calendars for this Friday. Virginia Beach is reopening this weekend, but there will be some rules in place — here's what you need to know before you go.

The state is officially opening up the beach fronts on Friday, May 22, for recreational activity. This includes sunbathing, swimming, fishing (in specific spots), and exercise, though groups will still be prohibited from playing sports on the shores.

Umbrellas, tents, alcohol, and speakers will also not be allowed, and visitors will be asked to leave if they are seen with any of these items.

Social distancing guidelines set by the CDC should still be followed, with six feet of distance between yourself and other visitors as well as keeping group sizes to no more than 10.

The parking garages and lots around the area will also be limited to half the usual capacity.

“Let me be clear: These rules must be followed,” Governor Ralph Northam said in a press conference. “If people swarm these beaches and ignore social distancing rules or the regulations the city has put into place, I will not hesitate to reinstate phase one restrictions, or even close the beach outright, if necessary.”

According to Mayor Bobby Dyer, about 150 people have volunteered to be part of the Virginia Beach Ambassador System, which will help make sure everyone is following the rules and regulations.

This is just phase one of reopening for Virginia Beach. The governor is relying on visitors to take these restrictions seriously before going into phase two.

How this reopening will impact cases of COVID-19 in Virginia Beach remains to be seen.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Beach has had 559 confirmed cases to date. The dashboard is updated as new data becomes available.