Point Pleasant Boro Prohibits Vacation Rentals Due To Coronavirus

POINT PLEASANT BORO – Point Pleasant Boro says it's taking steps to "flatten the curve" of coronavirus as cases continue to rise in the community, prohibiting vacation rental-by-owners in town and asking people to stay in their primary communities.

The officials took the steps as Point Pleasant Boro's cases rose to 13 on Wednesday, and four deaths were reported in Ocean County. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Mayor Robert A. Sabosik echoed Gov. Phil Murphy's statements, saying all New Jersey residents should remain at their primary residences.

In order to protect year-round residents and out-of-towners from the spread of COVID-19, Sabosik and council suspended, until further notice, all aribnb and vacation rentals-by-owners in Point Pleasant Boro.

"We understand that those who own a second home and other property in our area, along with those who want to visit, have rights. But the reasoning behind this decision by the governor is because our local medical facilities are not equipped to handle an influx of out-of-town visitors during the off-season times of year," he said.

As people travel from region-to-region, it becomes increasingly difficult for health authorities to track the spread of COVID-19 and to do their jobs, he said.

Sabosik said he and the council also took the step of temporarily suspending all permits for door-to-door solicitors, or salespeople.

Sabosik said he wanted to make sure "no one skirted the governor’s executive order by going door-to-door interacting with the public in order to flatten the curve and help prevent the spread of COVID-19."

He said he's had many residents complain that this was still going on and "so we had to act on it."

"As always, I remain incredibly proud of our community for how we have all come together to get through this crisis," he said. "There truly is no better place to be than the Boro."