Ocean City kicks off Memorial Day weekend with ocean unlock as New Jersey lifts mask mandate – CBS Philly

OCEAN CITY, NJ (CBS) – As we head into the holiday weekend, New Jersey regains a sense of normalcy. As of today, wearing masks and social distancing are no longer mandatory for people who are fully vaccinated.

There are mixed reactions, but a lot of people are excited. And despite the gloomy weather, we saw the sun rise earlier in the day when the beaches officially opened.

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As the unofficial start of summer begins, Ocean City executives used a giant key to unlock the beach on Friday.

“We have been waiting for this day for a long time. It’s great, a lot of people are here, ”Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian said.

the #Ocean City the beach is unlocked! @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/i6tUYreLV0

– Matt Petrillo (@MattPetrillo) May 28, 2021

Ocean City also had its businessmen plunge, a slow walk of fully clothed business people into the cold Atlantic Ocean for the first swim of the summer.

“I was a little worried when the weather forecast wasn’t very good today, but it wasn’t that bad. I love it. Welcome summer, ”said Chris Oteri.

“The city is now officially open for business, and we’re all good to go,” said Tom Heist of Heist Insurance Agency. “This is my best costume. In fact, I have a really nice entry this afternoon, so I wanted to get ready – little dive, go for lunch!

Ocean unlock features ‘The Business Persons Plunge’ – a walk of fully clothed business people out into the cold Atlantic Ocean for the first swim of summer @CBSPhilly #Ocean City pic.twitter.com/qMuLVpWodE

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– Matt Petrillo (@MattPetrillo) May 28, 2021

And after a long wait, the Garden State also just ended social distancing rules and the indoor mask mandate in public spaces.

“If you’ve been vaccinated and you’ve done the right thing and you know, I mean, if science says we can lift the masks, we should be able to do it,” said Fabiana Mesiano, a visitor to ‘Ocean City.

“The world is coming back to normal,” said one visitor.

Today, many families are looking forward to a great summer, like Suzanne Manno and her grandchildren.

“I’ve been coming since I was very little myself,” she says.

“If the weather is nice, it looks like everyone wants to come back to the Jersey Shore, especially Ocean City,” said Gillian.

If you’re looking for something to do indoors this weekend on the shore, a new arcade has opened inside the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City.

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Here in Ventnor, a gorgeous new movie theater just opened last week after two years of delays.