Beaches in Hancock, Jackson counties to remain closed over coronavirus. Here’s more.
Hancock County supervisors decided Monday to keep the beaches closed until May 4 at 12 a.m., and Jackson County supervisors are meeting to determine if beaches will open there.
Harrison County supervisors on Friday chose to allow the beaches to reopen after Gov. Tate Reeves amended his shelter-in-place order.
The opening of Hancock County beaches will be considered again at the May 4 meeting.
If the number of new coronavirus cases in Hancock County improves before then, the supervisors could call an earlier meeting. “So people know there is some hope there,” said Supervisor Kodie Koenenn.
The parking bays also will remain closed at Hancock County beaches, except in areas for access to walking trails. The supervisors said a lot of thought goes into maintaining the beach closures, particularly considering the county’s proximity to Louisiana and the many cases there.
“Our numbers are holding steady, have done well in Hancock County,” said Scotty Adams, president of the supervisors.
Jackson County supervisors decided Monday to keep beaches closed until 8 a.m. on April 27, consistent to Reeves’ shelter-in-place extension.
Residents are still urged to limit gathering to 10 or less.
The decision to reopen Coast beaches follows Friday’s executive order from Reeves that said Coast beaches and state parks could reopen for fishing and relaxing at 8 a.m. Monday.
Reeves, however, left it up to local municipalities to decide whether to reopen the beaches.
Reeves said he wanted to open the beaches and lakes so people could “safely get out in the sun for their own sanity.”
On Monday, after heavy rains Sunday night, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality warned that 11 beaches across South Mississippi had high levels of bacteria and were not suitable for swimming.
MDEQ suspended its water quality program while all the beaches were closed, but began it again Monday. MDEQ issues an advisory when high bacteria levels pose an increased risk to human health, and water contact should be avoided.
These are the current advisories:
- Station 1 — Lakeshore Beach, Bay St. Louis, from Silver Slipper Casino east to Pointset Avenue
- Station 4 — Bay St. Louis Beach, from the Box Culvert east to Ballantine Street
- Station 5 — Pass Christian West Beach, from Fort Henry Avenue east to Elliot Street
- Station 6 — Pass Christian Central Beach, from Henderson Ave. east to Hiern Avenue
- Station 7 — Pass Christian East Beach, from Espy Avenue east to Hayden Avenue
- Station 07A — Long Beach, from Oak Gardens east to Girard Avenue
- Station 8 — Gulfport West Beach, from Marie Avenue east to Camp Avenue
- Gulfport Harbor Beach —from 20th Avenue east to Thornton Avenue
- Station 10 — Gulfport Central Beach,from Alfonso Drive east to Arkansas Avenue
- Station 12A — Biloxi West Central Beach, from Travia Street east to Iberville Drive
- Station 15 — Shearwater Beach, Ocean Springs, from Weeks Bayou east to Ashley Place
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 11:18 AM.
