Jeepin crowds showed up on MS Coast despite cancellation, ignoring mask, distancing rules
Jeepin the Coast was canceled because Harrison County is a COVID-19 hotspot, but crowds showed up anyway Saturday and were widely ignoring the governor’s mandate to wear masks.
“Jeeples,” as they are called, mingled in crowds of 50 or more at Jeff Davis Avenue and U.S. 90 in Long Beach, where a Saturday parade and downtown concert were canceled. None of them had on a mask, including a vendor selling Jeepin apparel and souvenirs.
Gov. Tate Reeves has mandated that masks be worn in public in 13 counties where COVID-19 cases are high, including Harrison and Jackson counties in South Mississippi. He said Friday he expects up to 12 more counties in Mississippi to be added Monday to the mandate, which he plans to extend for two weeks.
The governor’s order also limits indoor gatherings to 10 and outdoor gatherings to 20.
Visitors from COVID-19 hotspots, including Texas, Fla.
Out-of-town visitors who showed up for Jeepin included residents of Florida and Texas, where COVID-19 cases are soaring. A Sun Herald journalist also spotted license plates from Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana, also states with high numbers of COVID-19 cases.
Jeeps were cruising up and down U.S. 90 and visitors were eating in Coast restaurants.
Long Beach Police Chief Billy Seal said early Saturday afternoon that he has not had any complaints about the visitors.
“Our stance is it’s up to the private property owners, the restaurants and bars, to enforce it,” Seal said. “If they ask the people to leave and want to file charges on them, we will go down there and assist in that.”
The crowd was mostly hanging out on an empty lot on U.S. 90, where Hurricane Katrina left only a slab. They were eating, mingling and drinking beer.
One visitor from Louisiana, who would not give her name, said people brought masks that were in their Jeeps because they did not feel that they needed them outdoors. She said people were trying to follow rules and social distance.
Restaurant owner happy for business
Visitors also were eating and drinking at Coastal Daquiri Bar & Grill just north of the beach highway on Jeff Davis Avenue.
“It’s a wonderful crowd,” owner Keith Starita. “We’re glad to have them. We need to get back to work.”
“I’ve been talking to people from all over — Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama.”
“We didn’t know what to expect, but quite a few showed up. I’m fine with that. We need to get back to business.”
Starita said his employees are wearing masks and tables inside the restaurant are spaced 6 feet apart.
Asked if he thought the visitors should be wearing masks, he said he did not want to comment.
“I’m not here to make anybody mad,” he said. “I think everybody needs to go back to work.”
The Mississippi State Health Department reported on Saturday a total of 41,846 COVID-19 cases in Mississippi, which approaches the size of Biloxi’s population, and 1,346 deaths.
This story was originally published July 18, 2020 at 5:03 PM.
