Delaware beach goers were encouraged to social distance as COVID-19 continues to spike in beach towns. Wochit

Rehoboth Beach residents and visitors no longer have to wear a face mask on the beach as long as social distancing is possible.

You'll still have to wear a mask when entering and leaving the beach area.But lounging on the beach with family, swimming, exercising and working on that tancan all be done mask-less, unless the beach gets too crowded andsocial distancing of six feet can't be maintained.

Facial coverings must still be worn in all other public areas. That includes the Boardwalk, public parks, public sidewalks, public streets and commercial establishments within city limits. They are not required when exercising as long as you can maintain six feet from others.

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Tuesday's announcement comesless than a week after city commissioners concerned with a lack of social distancing and a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in eastern Sussex made it mandatory for people to wear facial coverings in all public places, including on the beach.

While Bethany also requires people on the Boardwalk to wear a mask, Rehobothis currently the only resort town along the Delaware coast that specifically targeted beachgoers.

Crowds came out on July 4th to Rehoboth Beach, as seen from atop the Atlantic Sands.(Photo: Chuck Snyder/Special to Delaware News Journal)

The short-lived mandate made for a 4th of July weekend like no other, and sparked major concern from both visitors and Rehoboth businesses.

Delaware health officials also reported Tuesday a 6.34% positive testing rate in the Rehoboth/Dewey area, after 264 people recently tested positive for the coronavirus.

State officials ramped up testing in the beach area after seeing outbreaks there. Theyconducted more than4,000 testsover the past week. Most people who tested positive were asymptomatic, health officials said Tuesday.

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Rehoboth businesses took a major economic hit over the 4th of July weekend as a result of the mask requirement, according toRehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce president Carol Everhart.

Everharttold commissioners during a meeting Tuesday that hotels reported $833,000 in lost revenue over the holidayweekend, compared to last4th of July.

"We immediately began to get calls from hotels and restaurants about cancellations," Everhart said. "It wasn't all the masks, but that was the main reason for the cancellations. I'm not getting complaints about wearing a mask anywhere but on the beach."

Kuhns disagreed, saying a major reason for the light crowds was the cancellation of Rehoboth's Independence Day fireworks, which the city nixed back in April.

Rehoboth Beach at noon on Saturday was packed with holiday beachgoers.(Photo: Courtesy of Maj. Gary Emeigh, Civil Air Patrol)

"I think absolutely having a mask on the beach did something, but there werent any fireworks," he said during the meeting."(People) were afraid to come because of the outbreak in the eastern part of the county."

Gov. John Carney also slowed down the proposed phase threeof the state's reopening after spikes in positive COVID-19 cases, particularlyby Delaware's beaches.

Everhart said she also surveyed 15 retail businesses, most of which said they were off in revenue by60% to 70%compared to last year's Independence Day weekend.

"Those who have been infected with the virus are not the only victims here," commissioner Edward Chrzanowski said during the meeting."We have to think about the town overall, the business community."

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Visiting Rehoboth Beach? What you need to know about the new face mask requirement - Delmarva Now