Beaches in New York City will be open to
the public for swimming ahead of Independence Day, after
partially being reopened for Memorial Day weekend celebrations
last month, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted late on Tuesday.
The mayor confirmed media reports that the city's beaches
would be officially open next week.
"The rumors are true: NYC beaches will open for swimming on
July 1," de Blasio said.
He reiterated that people should follow social distancing
rules and cover faces at the beach to prevent spreading the
novel coronavirus, which has killed more than 121,000 people and
affected 2.36 million people in the US as of late Tuesday.
Beaches in a few states were partially reopened for the
Memorial Day holiday weekend on May 23-25, with various
restrictions, including a swimming ban at New York City beaches.
The city has reported a total of 217,742 coronavirus cases
as of Tuesday, and 22,343 dead.
The decision to open beaches ahead of Independence Day
weekend comes as the country is grappling with both public
health concerns and social tension.
The US has witnessed widespread protests against racial
injustice since the death of a Black man, George Floyd, in
Minneapolis on May 25, after a white police officer knelt on his
neck.