COVID-19 Announcements And Closings

Please visit this page often for the latest information from the Ocean Pines Association regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Please note that all closings are subject to change, based on state and federal government requirements.

For the latest COVID-19 statistics, visit the Maryland Department of Health page.

A Message from the General Manager

In this unprecedented time, the safety of our staff, residents and guests has risen to the forefront of our daily lives.

Since COVID-19 came onto our radar in late February, Ocean Pines has worked to follow federal, state and local guidelines, closing many of our facilities and suspending programs and events.

Our Recreation and Parks, Aquatics, Golf, Yacht Club, and Administration operations have all been affected.

Still, we are seeing ingenuity and invention among many of those operations. The Matt Ortt Companies, for one, upon learning they could no longer accept dine-in patrons immediately decided they would remain open for delivery and carryout, to help feed Ocean Pines when many living here are self-quarantining, or else sheltering in place to help “flatten the curve.”

Our Public Relations Department has shifted from showcasing Association news and events, to supplying timely and vital information on COVID-19, as the situation changes not daily, but often hourly. The PR Department created a webpage filled with helpful information (www.oceanpines.org/opa-news/covid-19) and has been tireless in their efforts to keep our community informed.

We have also found new and closer partnerships with our neighbors at Worcester County, Ocean City, Berlin and elsewhere, as we all continue to compare notes on how everything would work from park closures, to public meetings restricted to having no in-person public participation.

There have also been many volunteer groups that have sprung up in the Pines, to help seniors and others who cannot leave their home to pick up food or medicine. Their generosity is inspiring to us all and we have vowed to help spread the word and highlight their stories, wherever we can.

When we do reopen our facilities to the public, it will be with a brand-new Golf building, headlined by the all-new Clubhouse Bar and Grille run by the Matt Ortt Companies, bringing you the same high quality and service you've come to expect at the Yacht Club.

Our vow to our homeowners is this: we will get through this, and we will come back stronger than ever. We can't wait to share all new events and new programs we have in store for you, along the same dedication to strong customer service and financial stewardship that you have come to expect over the last year.

Until then, be safe, take care of yourselves and your families, and please let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.

-John Viola

Assessment Payments

The assessment due date was extended to Aug. 1, based on a vote by the Ocean Pines Board of Directors.

Board members approved the date, citing concerns that some homeowners are facing unique and unprecedented financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paying the assessment on or before Aug. 1 prevented members from incurring late charges, but could have affected their ability to vote in the 2020 Board of Directors election.

According to Ocean Pines bylaws, no member may cast a ballot if, 35 days prior to the voting deadline, the member has failed to pay the annual assessment charge. This year, the voting deadline was July 1, 2020.

The Board of Directors strongly encouraged those who could pay the assessment by May 1 to do so, to help continue funding Ocean Pines operations.

Ocean Pines Facilities

Administration

The front desk is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Payments will still be accepted via the drop box in the 24-hour lobby or by mail.

For questions, email member@oceanpines.org.


Aquatics

Ocean Pines' indoor Sports Core Pool is open, with procedures in place to comply with state and federal safety guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pool procedures will continue to follow the governor’s mandate to limit capacity and adhere to social distancing and sanitization measures.

Pool guests will be responsible for social distancing within the water, while Aquatics staff will define social distancing guidelines on the pool decks and check-in areas.

Those interested in purchasing swim memberships may do so at the Ocean Pines Administration Building. Forms are available in the building’s lobby or online at oceanpines.org. Payments may be submitted by mail, by email to member@oceanpines.org or by placing in the lobby drop box. Applications may also be taken to building’s front desk Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Non-resident swim memberships may be purchased as well.

The schedule at the Sports Core Pool is as follows:

  • Hours of operation: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sunday 
  • The Sports Core Pool opens Monday-Friday at 6 a.m. for Early Bird Lap Swim and at 8 a.m. for classes and swim members only.
  • The Sports Core Pool is open for classes, lap swimming/exercise, and recreational swimming (pending availability - please call the Sports Core at 410-641-5255 to confirm availability for recreational swimming).

All guests entering the pool will be asked to provide their names and contact information (using sterilized pens) to facilitate contact tracing. Additional guests will be allowed in as guests leave in the event that pool capacity is reached.

Chairs will be provided, but loungers will not be available. Guests may bring their owns chairs or loungers if they wish.

Guests will be required to wear a mask upon entry at the pool, when using the bathrooms and when approaching others on the pool deck who are not in their immediate party.

For more information or questions, contact Colby Phillips at cphillips@oceanpines.org.

For questions or assistance with registration for classes and activities, call Ocean Pines Aquatics from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. daily at 410-641-5255. 

The pool card expiration date has been extended until Oct.1, 2021 and applies to all pool cards, regardless of when they were purchased. All pool cards must have been registered by April 30 to take advantage of the extension. Those who already registered were automatically enrolled into the new extension date.

Beach Club

The Beach Club restaurant and restrooms are closed for the season, and the parking lot no longer has an attendant on duty (effective Sept. 8, 2020). An outdoor portable toilet will be in place through Oct. 7, 2020.

Community Center

The Ocean Pines Community Center (including restrooms) is currently closed to the public. It is open for select activities, meetings and events 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Farmers & Artisans Market

The Ocean Pines Farmers and Artisans Market will remain open for the foreseeable future. It will continue to operate Saturdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in White Horse Park.

Cooking demonstrations, children’s activities and other special events have been temporarily suspended.

Visitors are required to wear face coverings and asked to practice social distancing.

More information about the Farmers & Artisans Market is available at https://oceanpines.org/web/pages/farmers-artisans-market.


Golf Course

Ocean Pines Golf Club is open. Reservations for tee times can be made online at oceanpinesgolf.org or by calling 410-641-6057.

Information about procedures and restrictions for playing is available at https://www.oceanpinesgolf.org/news/166-ocean-pines-golf-club-to-reopen-may-9.

The Clubhouse Bar and Grille is open for carryout and indoor (seating at every other table) and outdoor dining, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. 

Walking and biking by nongolfers will no longer be allowed on the golf course.

A portable hand-washing station is available.  
 

Marinas

Marinas reopened on Friday, May 1 to allow slip holders to access boat slips. Limited service will be available. Gas pumps are open for gas and oil.

All slip holders will be allowed to put their boats in their slips and prepare their boats for the summer season once all 2020 documents and payments are received. Boat slip paperwork can be deposited in the 24-hour drop box located in the Administration Building lobby.

Staff will follow the CDC guideline and safe distancing to keep not only staff safe, but also customers as well.

Those visiting the marinas are asked to practice all CDC and other safety guidelines as follows:
  • Please do not visit the establishment if you are sick or have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus.
  • Maintain a six-foot distance from others, and practice all other proper hand washing and illness-prevention procedures.
  • Per the newest order by Gov. Larry Hogan, please wear a mask while visiting the establishment.
A portable hand-washing station is available at the Yacht Club Marina.

For more information or questions, call 410-641-7052.

 

Parks and Playgrounds

Community parks and playgrounds are open.

All visitors must practice social distancing when possible, as well as practice proper hand hygiene when entering and exiting the parks and all outdoor areas.

Ocean Pines will provide a hand-washing station at the White Horse Park pavilion, as well as hand sanitizer stations at playgrounds and the skate park.

Trash cans and picnic tables have been removed.

White Horse Park restrooms will remain closed, at this time.

The membership renewal process for the Ocean Pines Dog Park is underway and applications will be available through the Recreation and Parks Department.

Passive walking trails in Ocean Pines remain open.

Portable hand-washing stations are available at White Horse Park and the South Gate Walking Trail near the Veterans Memorial.

For more information or questions, call 410-641-7052.
 


Public Works

Ocean Pines Public Works, including the Public Works yard, is closed to the public. The Public Works Yard will reopen to Ocean Pines residents in Fall 2020. Specific dates may be viewed at https://www.oceanpines.org/web/pages/public-works.

Those needing assistance may email ewells@oceanpines.org or call 410-641-7425.

Architectural Review Committee meetings have been suspended. Necessary documents will be signed electronically.


Racquet Center

The Ocean Pines Racquet Center is open daily from 7 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3-7 p.m. for all normal activities. The Racquet Center is closed from noon to 3 p.m., daily. Starting Oct. 1, the Racquet Center will be staffed from 7-11 a.m. and 3-6 p.m., daily. Non-members are asked to please honor drop-in fees and place payments in the fee box when staff members are not present.

A portable hand-washing station is available.

Information about procedures and restrictions for playing can be found by clicking here.

For more information or questions, call 410-641-5255.


Recreation and Parks

The Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department is currently offering limited programming. For questions or to register, call the Ocean Pines Recreation and Parks Department from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. daily at 410-641-7052.


Yacht Club

The Ocean Pines Yacht Club is open for dining Thursday-Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. The restaurant is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Reservations are not being accepted at this time; guests are served on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Carryout orders are available by calling 410-641-7501 or online at http://toasttab.com/ocean-pines-yacht-club.

The full menu is available at https://www.opyachtclub.com/restaurant-menu.

 

Utilities

Mediacom

Mediacom, on April 30, announced the company extension through June 30, 2020 of a series of previously announced initiatives directed at helping American families address work, education and health care challenges created by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Specific initiatives include:
• Offering the Mediacom Connect2Compete low-cost Internet program free for 60 days to new qualifying families.
• Extending the pricing of Mediacom’s Access Internet 60 service to new customers at $19.99 per month for 12 months (currently retails for $29.99 per month).
• Pausing monthly data allowances across all Mediacom Internet service tiers.
• Providing complimentary access to all Mediacom Xtream Wi-Fi Hotspots.

Along with these initiatives, Mediacom joined a number of other Internet service providers in recommitting to the Keep Americans Connected Pledge issued by Federal Communications Chairman Ajit Pai. As part of this pledge, Mediacom will not disconnect internet or phone services or assess late fees to any customer who calls and informs the company that they cannot pay their bills through June 30 due to a COVID-19-related issue.


Republic Services

To help protect trash collectors during the COVID-19 pandemic, Republic Services is asking Ocean Pines residents to take extra care to not place any materials outside of Republic collection containers.

Garbage and recycling crews are working diligently to continue to serve Ocean Pines residents with curbside collection services. Republic Services asks customers to do the following:
• Fill municipal waste containers with waste materials (trash) only
• Fill recycling containers with recyclable materials only
• Avoid placing loose bags of waste or recyclables of any kind on the ground
• Suspend yard waste collection (during the COVID-19 pandemic only)
• Suspend bulk waste collection (during the COVID-19 pandemic only)

For questions or further information, contact Republic Services at 215-783-9329.


Choptank Electric Cooperative

Compliance with the Governor’s orders and CDC guidance in response to the COVID-19 crisis will make it impossible to achieve a quorum at the Cooperative’s Annual Member Meeting. As such, the meeting will be adjourned from April 30, 2020, until August 13, 2020.

Call the Member Service Center at 1-877-892-0001 or visit www.choptankelectric.coop for more information.

Postal Service

To help reduce traffic at community mailboxes, Ocean Pines is recommending residents use a free, online tool available through the U.S. Postal Service. “Informed Delivery” allows users to digitally preview mail and manage packages scheduled to arrive soon.

According to the Postal Service, the platform “allows you to view greyscale images of the exterior, address side of letter-sized mailpieces and track packages in one convenient location.”

For more information, visit https://informeddelivery.usps.com.

COVID-19 Testing

The Worcester County Health Department has released the following guidelines for testing for COVID-19:

Testing is available based on screening. If you or your child has developed symptoms that could indicate COVID-19 (fever, shortness of breath, cough), contact your primary care doctor first and foremost so they can screen you and determine if you should be tested. If you do not have a primary care doctor, you can reach out by phone to urgent care clinics or our (WCHD) call center (410-632-1100 option 8) available Mon-Fri 8 am to 5 pm and this Saturday 9 am to 3 pm.

Whether or not someone has tested positive for COVID-19 everyone should be practicing basic precautions. If you are sick with mild symptoms contact your doctor, you may be advised to recover at home if your symptoms don’t worsen. If you are experiencing a medical emergency call 9-1-1. But whenever possible, call ahead to limit the potential exposure to first responders, doctors, and health care workers.

You can learn more about testing, COVID-19, how the virus spreads and precautions we should all be taking here: https://worcesterhealth.org/…/1711-coronavirus-corvid.

Click here for COVID-19 testing locations in Ocean City, Maryland.

Additional Resources

The following resources are currently being provided by local, state and federal agencies to assist the public and local businesses during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis: