In an effort to better promote social distancing and curb gathering of more than 10 people Gov. Charlie Baker issued an emergency order last Friday requiring all coastal beach reservation parking areas managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to close.
The order applies to parking on Lynn Shore Drive and by Friday morning traffic cones and signs directed drivers away from the beach’s on-street parking areas. On Saturday State Police began ticketing and towing cars that did not move after the order was given to residents.
Gov. Baker said the order was to further reduce large concentrations of people at beaches during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Lynn Beach will remain open and available to pedestrians for transitory use only, i.e. walking, jogging, biking, solitary fishing, etc.
“If you really want to support health care workers, first responders and other essential employees, please stay home,” said Mayor Thomas M. McGee. “The actions we are asking you to take now and over the course of the next several weeks will help curb the spread of this virus, and save lives, If you have to go out to pick up essential items, make sure you practice social distancing and stay 6 feet away from other at all times, wear a mouth and face coverings and continue to wash your hands often. We will get through this together as we continue to work towards mitigating community spread of COVID-19 and flattening the curve.”
The Lynn Public Health Department has confirmed that as of Tuesday the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has risen to 317 and 3 Lynn residents have died.
“As the number of cases in Lynn continue to rise, residents need to be vigilant of the increasing threat of the spread of COVID-19 resulting from the lack of compliance with social distancing guidelines by some in our community,” added the Mayor. “I implore you to stay home.”
Lynn officials, Gov. Baker and the DCR continue to stress that if Lynn Beach or other area parks are crowded, visitors should consider visiting a different location or returning at a later date or time. The Governor and DCR also advises visitors of state parks to:
• Stay within solitary or small groups, and avoid gatherings of ten or more people;
• Practice social distancing of at least six feet between individuals;
• Participate in only non-contact recreational activities;
• Practice healthy personal hygiene, such as handwashing for at least 20 seconds; Stay home if ill, over 70, and/or part of a vulnerable population.
To centralize COVID-19 updates that impact the state parks system, DCR recently developed a Massachusetts State Parks COVID-19 Updates webpage. Prior to visiting a state parks property, members of the public should review the contents of the webpage. Furthermore, for information about the Baker-Polito Administration’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, please visit the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) website.