Gov. Phil Murphy says he will be keeping an eye on crowds at the Jersey Shore this weekend, including Long Branch, and if it's anything like last weekend, he may have reason to be concerned in some places.

 

Last weekend, photos of the crowds quickly circulated on social media, and several blocks in Belmar and Long Branch had to be closed due to social distancing concerns. 

At Long Branch Beach, attendants visually monitor the crowds and when too many people arrived, they shut down the entrances and pushed them to other areas, the town's business administrator, George Jackson, said earlier in the week.

VIRUS TRACKER: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut coronavirus cases and deaths 
MORE: LIVE BLOG - Coronavirus updates from the tri-state area and beyond
MORE: New Jersey Coronavirus Dashboard 
FULL COVERAGE: Coronavirus Pandemic

Jackson says the data coming into the city's health department shows social distancing efforts at the beaches are working, and despite big crowds this summer -- there have been no upticks in the number of positive cases.

Earlier this week, the most recent data showed the entire city of Long Branch only recorded one new positive coronavirus case within that last 24 hours, adding that some beaches also shut down in mid-June due to overcrowding without a spike in cases.