Wrightsville Beach closes beach access to prevent spread of novel coronavirus

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C. (WTVD) -- If you had plans of visiting any of North Carolina's beaches, your choices are limited, many townships in the coastal region of North Carolina are closing access to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

Friday morning, the Town of Wrightsville Beach immediately closed all of its beaches (sound and ocean side) through Tuesday, March 31. The closure will remain in effect until the declaration is canceled or superseded by another declaration.

Wrightsville Beach is the most recent municipality to join the list of closures in the coastal region. On Tuesday, Dare County officials issued an emergency order banning visitors from North Carolina's Outer Banks on Tuesday.

In a statement from the Dare County Emergency Management Joint Information Center, officials said they will set up checkpoints at all entrances to the county. No visitors will be allowed access.

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ABC News reported the mandate is not an evacuation order. Emergency workers, business owners and Dare County residents will still be allowed to enter the area. However, they have to present a permit to pass through checkpoints.

In addition, visitors will not be allowed to drive through Dare County to access Currituck County, Hyde County or Tyrell County. People who live, work or own property in those counties will be able to get through, however.

Currently, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has reported 137 positive COVID-19 cases in 28 counties within the state.