Bay, Waveland, Pass Christian issue stay-at-home orders due to coronavirus. Are beach closures next?
Pass Christian is the latest city to issue a stay-at-home order and curfew.
Now, Pass Christian, Waveland and the city of Bay St. Louis have issued the orders and Diamondhead is expected to do the same by day’s end.
“Everybody knows the sooner this virus is over with, the soon we get back to normal,” Pass Christian Mayor Chipper McDermott said.
In Bay St. Louis, a curfew is set to go into effect at 11:59 p.m. tonight, with the same measure going into effect in Waveland and Pass Christian on Thursday night, all in an effort to restrict the spread of coronavirus.
The three orders mirror that of other cities in Harrison County that have ordered a shelter-in-place strategy and calls for the temporary shut down of non-essential businesses, such as barber shops, nail salons and gyms.
The curfew is from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily in Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian and Waveland, according to the proclamations, and requires all to stay home with the exception of state and federal workers, law enforcement, healthcare workers, emergency responders and a few other exceptions.
Restaurants will be allowed to provide curbside pickup and meal deliveries.
Anyone who violates any of the restrictions could be face a fine of up to $300 and/or six months in jail.
Waveland Mayor Mike Smith and Bay St. Louis Mayor Mike Favre have asked Hancock County supervisors to close the beaches.
Waveland, however, is asking Hancock County supervisors to keep the walking track near the beach open for use, but the city has shut down Buccaneer State Park to visitors.
In addition, Smith said, the city is going to keep the parking lot near the lighthouse at the foot of Coleman Avenue open, though all bathroom will remain closed.
“This is just something to keep people from interacting and stay at home,” Smith said. “We know social distancing and staying at home works, and we are trying to do something to stop the spread of this virus.”
The call for the temporary beach closure from both Smith and Bay St. Louis Mayor Mike Favre came after many out-of-state residents starting calling to find out if the beaches there were still open for business.
In nearby Florida, beaches are shut down
The Hancock County Board of Supervisors initially planned to vote on shutting down its beaches Wednesday night, but has instead decided to follow Gov. Tate Reeves’ decision to close them at 5 p.m. on Friday.
Gulfport, Biloxi, D’Iberville and Long Beach approved “safer at home” orders Tuesday. Last week, Moss Point Mayor Mario King a shelter-in-place order and curfew last week. The curfew in the River City is daily from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
All of the orders came just before Reeves announced a statewide shelter-in-place order for the state.
Check back with sunherald.com for updates to this developing story.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 1:11 PM.
