MediaWize

Following are the latest coronavirus restrictions announced by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy: New Jersey, New York and Connecticut will limit crowd capacity for recreational and social gatherings to 50 people -- effective by 8 p.m. Monday night. Restaurants and bars will close for on-premise service and move to take-out and delivery only effective 8 p.m. tonight. Movie theaters, gyms and casinos will temporarily close effective 8 p.m. tonight. Uniform approach to social distancing will slow spread of COVID-19 throughout the tri-state area.

Based on the latest guidance from public health officials and out of an abundance of caution, the city will take the following actions to limit the risk of transmitting coronavirus (COVID-19). As of Tuesday (March 17), the Ocean City Community Center (including the Ocean City Free Public Library, Aquatic and Fitness Center, Arts Center, Historical Museum and Senior Center) will be closed. The Ocean City Sports and Civic Center and other city facilities also will be closed, and all Recreation Department programs suspended until further notice. All special events through the end of April will be canceled. This includes the OC Con Comic and Memorabilia Show, Girls Weekend, the Great Egg Hunts on the beach and other Easter events, the Easter Sunrise Service, the Doo Dah Parade, the Mr. Mature America Pageant and the Sports Memorabilia Show, among others.

Ocean City School District will be open Monday, March 16 with an early dismissal for students. The district will be closed to students as directed by the Cape May County Health Department beginning March 17 up until Monday, March 30. Details about the closing are included in the following two letters written by Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Taylor and the Cape May County Health Department.

The Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority is replacing and rehabilitating the force mains that carry wastewater to the treatment plant on the bay at 45th Street. The work will be done on 31st Street from Haven Avenue to Bay Avenue and on Bay Avenue from 31st Street to Eighth Street. Details follow on the construction work scheduled for the week of March 16-20.

The school districts of Mainland Regional High School, Chartertech High School for the Performing Arts, Northfield, Linwood, and Somers Point are closing for students for 14 days beginning Monday, March 16 until Monday, March 30 out of concern for the coronavirus threat. "Even though at this time, there are no confirmed cases in Atlantic County, we are acting with an abundance of caution to address the spread of COVID-19 and to help protect and support our students, families, and communities during this National Emergency," the schools said in a statement announcing the closings.

Ocean City Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Taylor details the steps and precautions the school district is taking amid the coronavirus outbreak. Her letter to the public follows.

The Pi Day 5K Run and Walk will not be held this Saturday because of the coronavirus. A new date will be set, school officials announced on the district’s website at www.oceancityschools.org.

The Ocean City girls basketball team captured the Group 3 state tournament semifinal by defeating Westampton Tech on Thursday night, 50-38. Ocean City’s Abbey Fenton led all scorers with 17 points, while fellow seniors Delaney Lappin and Lauren Mirsky chipped in 12 and 11, respectively. Emma Finnegan brought down 11 rebounds for the Red Raiders, the Group 3 South Jersey champions. Due to concerns with the coronavirus, the game was played in a closed gym at Deptford High School with no fans in attendance. However, the Red Raiders won't get a chance to play for the state Group 3 title. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association announced late Thursday night that the remainder of both the girls and boys championship games have been canceled and will not be rescheduled because of the coronavirus crisis.

Spectators will not be allowed to attend the Ocean City High School girls basketball state tournament game this evening because of coronavirus-related crowd restrictions. Ocean City, the South Jersey Group 3 champion, will face Central Jersey Group 3 champion Westampton Tech in the Group 3 state semifinals at 5 p.m. at Deptford High School.

The current tour of the brass ensemble of the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band, including a free show that had been scheduled for Sunday, March 15, at the Ocean City Music Pier, has been canceled. The city hopes to reschedule the performance at a later date.