United States – On average, more than fifty beaches in the U.S. are either closed to swimming or under some form of warning on the Fourth of July.
Widespread Beach Closures and Warnings
Local and state governments have issued cautions concerning shores in their localities, but there isn’t a comprehensive directory to confirm whether a beach is undergoing health advisory. Due to this, the CDC advises that people going to the beach should first check online for health alerts before they proceed to the beach of their choice for the holiday, as reported by The Hills.
High bacterial levels and other contaminants have called for advisories or closings in several states across the nation.
Reasons for Closures and Advisories
In Massachusetts, the state said that more than 35 beaches had shut as of Thursday morning due to various reasons, but most are attributed to bacterial exceedance, meaning that the Enterococci or E. coli is above the stipulated limit. Occasionally, some of the beaches are shut due to “harmful cyanobacterial blooms,” which may be caused by rain, storms, and other natural phenomena.
New York is currently operating with at least two beaches closed and five beaches that are open but carry advisory warnings from the state. A local government may be able to directly provide warnings about beaches, which health officials suggest people consult. An advisory was issued in Suffolk County last week regarding 63 beaches as a result of a heavy bacterial influx due to rainfall and stormwater, as reported by ABC.
Recommendations for Beachgoers
Knowing that Michigan has at least seven closures and advisories for beaches, according to the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Consulting the social platform X Wednesday, the department posted a message encouraging Michiganders to “Check for beach closures. ”
In Illinois, there are 26 advisory notices on beaches in the state, some of which are closed for ‘High bacteria levels,’ as indicated by the Illinois Department of Public Health, as reported by The Hills.