Another beach closed: Beaufort County’s Hunting Island shuts down due to coronavirus
Beginning Saturday, Hunting Island State Park will close its gates through the end of April in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to a Friday news release from S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism.
The move comes less than a week after town officials restricted access to Hilton Head Island beaches, and means Beaufort County beachgoers will have few options to spend time next to the ocean in the coming month.
A week ago, The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette reported that people congregated in large groups on area sandbars after many beaches were closed. Hunting Island park manager J.W. Weatherford said last Thursday and Saturday were as busy as it would be on a typical Saturday in June.
“We knew people would be coming out, but we almost had to close the front gates of the entire park from running out of parking spaces,” he said. Fliers at the park’s entrance reminded guests to stay 6 feet apart and to limit group sizes.
All state parks, including Hunting Island, will close Saturday, following temporary closures of day-use areas on Wednesday and Thursday. Visitors in campsites and cabins will be able to stay for as long as they have sites reserved as long as they practice social distancing, a news release said.
Weatherford said full-time permanent state employees will continue working at the park while it’s closed,l and all projects that have been planned and funded will happen.
He said the closure will allow employees to concentrate on tasks such as roping off the dunes, painting buildings and pruning along the trails.
When the gates open after the coronavirus pandemic, “the park will look as good as it’s ever looked,” he said.
“It has definitely been worse in last five years,” Weatherford said. “At least we won’t be going into a broken state park like we did after the hurricanes.”
Although the gates are closed, the public can still follow news of their favorite state park via the South Carolina State Parks page on Facebook.
As coronavirus worries began to grow in the Lowcountry earlier this month, campground cancellations were already increasing. The rangers had also increased the cleaning of facilities as they expected more guests to visit over spring break.
All facilities in the park, including the lighthouse, visitor center, nature center and shops, had been closed prior to Friday’s announcement.
Hunting Island is the state’s most popular park, hosting more than a million visitors a year. The barrier island is 5,000 acres situated in the northeastern part of the county less than 20 miles from Beaufort.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 11:33 AM.
