COVID-19 Strategic Response Plan

Safe Opening of Suffolk County Beaches

Suffolk County
Updated May 14, 2020

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COVID-19 Response Strategic Plan for Opening of Suffolk County Beaches
I. Public Health and Safety Guidelines

- Beach visitors will not be required to wear a face covering or mask when on the beach or in the
water.
- Beach visitors will be required to wear a face covering or mask when on or in any other public area
within the park including :
o the deck/boardwalk
o stairs leading to the deck/boardwalk
o restrooms
o concession area
o any other public area other than the beach or water

o Beach visitors will be notified by staff of the face covering or mask policy upon entry.
 During initial opening period, operators should have a supply of face coverings or
masks on-hand to distribute to beach visitors upon entry who do not have face
coverings or masks to wear as required.
o Beach visitors will be warned upon entry, via posted signage, that if they are experiencing
any COVID-19 symptoms or have been knowingly exposed to a confirmed positive case
- Beach visitors will be required to maintain social distance of a minimum of six feet between
themselves and anyone not within their household.

o Abundant signage explaining specific required public behaviors will be installed at all
beaches:
 Social distance requirement – including visual representation of 6 feet
 Mask/face covering requirement

o Signage will be installed at the following examples of key locations:

 All entrances and exits
 Concession stands
 Water fountains
 Along boardwalks/walkways
 Public restrooms
 Abundant signage and floor markings defining queue with appropriate
required social distance should be installed in restrooms
 Within sight of popular vistas (i.e. where people are most likely to be looking after
initial arrival)
o Signs will contain visual cues and be posted in English and Spanish.

II. Season

- Suffolk County lifeguarded ocean beaches (Smith Point County Park and Cupsogue Beach County
Park) will open Memorial Day weekend 2020 with adequate staffing in place necessary to ensure
compliance with applicable public health and safety rules and guidelines by Memorial Day should
open when they are able to implement the necessary staffing.

- Other Suffolk County lifeguarded beaches will open the third weekend in June, as typical with
adequate staffing in place necessary to ensure compliance with applicable public health and safety

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 rules and guidelines by Memorial Day should open when they are able to implement the necessary
staffing .

III. Staff

- The County will hire a full complement of lifeguard and other seasonal staffing.
o Lifeguards will undergo special training related to executing saves (including using water-
compatible masks, etc.) from their certifying body (American Red Cross, American Heart
Association, etc.)

- The County will hired additional public safety or other personnel to be stationed at all entry and
exit points, as well as on beaches for compliance with applicable public health and safety rules and
guidelines.
o Each beach will have a staffing plan based upon the appropriate enforcement and
communication personnel necessary to ensure compliance with applicable public health
and safety rules and guidelines.
 Enforcement and communication staff will be trained to:
 Inform beach visitors of applicable rules
 Adjust behavior of beach visitors to ensure compliance
o Staff should be provided with a visual tool to remind visitors of the
six feet social distance requirement
 Respond to persistent non-compliant behavior
o An established escalation process will be in place for visitors who
refuse to comply, which will be comprised of beach patrol
personnel who will be in direct contact with Park Rangers who will
coordinate escalated enforcement with the Suffolk County Police
Department as appropriate and necessary.

- Each beach will employ a bathroom attendant to ensure compliance with applicable public health
and safety rules and guidelines.
o Additional staffing will be added to accomplish regular cleaning of public restrooms
commensurate with the typical number of daily visitors.
- Staff will fully educated on the symptoms of COVID-19 and advised to stay home if they develop
any of the symptoms.
o Staff will have their temperatures checked daily and immediately sent home if they have a
temperature of 100.3 or higher.

IV. Capacity

- Each beach will have a capacity plan to ensure adequate space is available for household groups to
maintain a minimum of six feet of distance from all other groups.
o Dependent upon the total size of the beach, visitor capacity will be limited by an
appropriate proportion to ensure adequate beach is available for groups to maintain six
feet of distance from all other groups.
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  Capacity for each beach will be calculated in conjunction with the Suffolk County
Department of Health Services.

V. Facilities
- Cleaning and disinfecting
o Public restrooms on site will be cleaned regularly commensurate with the typical number
of daily visitors.
 Special attention will be given to high touch surfaces.
 Door knobs, countertops, handles, sinks
 Cleaning staff will be provided with disposable gloves.
o Public restrooms will be disinfected nightly using an EPA-approved disinfectants for use
against SARS-CoV-2.
- Use of certain facilities/amenities
o The use of playgrounds will be prohibited for the 2020 season.
o The use of basketball and handball courts will be prohibited for the 2020 season.

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