Lewes added to long list of beaches closed to swimmers due to medical waste washing ashore

The medical waste that began washing up on Delmarva's ocean beaches Sunday has reached the Delaware Bay.

Lewes Assistant City Manager Janet Reeves said medical items were first observed on the beach there late Monday afternoon.

Lewes beaches are now closed to swimmers, as are beaches in Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, South Bethany and Fenwick Island. In Maryland, Ocean City and Assateague State Park have closed to swimmers, as has Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland and Virginia.

Needles have been reported at several beaches, as have large amounts of small plastic trash. Some of the items are medical; some are not.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Department of Emergency Management are leading the investigation into where the waste came from, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson said. Officials from those agencies did not immediately respond to inquiries Tuesday, but a Monday Facebook post from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said they are coordinating with other agencies to determine when it will be safe for people to enter the water.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

"The public is advised to take caution along the coastline, wear shoes if walking on the beach, and not touch any plastic debris in or near the water," the post said.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has "been actively monitoring the waste washing onshore," according to a Monday Facebook post.

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"DNREC has confirmed only minimal waste on Delaware beaches, but we are taking the situation seriously and advising caution," the post said.

If you find medical waste on Delaware beaches, contact the department's Environmental Hotline at 800-662-8802.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Lewes added to long list of beaches closed to swimmers due to medical waste washing ashore