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North Carolina beaches overrun with seashells amid coronavirus lockdown

Click to play video: 'Shells pile up on North Carolina beach as pandemic keeps tourists away'
Shells pile up on North Carolina beach as pandemic keeps tourists away
WATCH: Seashells piled up on the beaches of the Outer Banks in North Carolina since no one has been collecting them, local media reported – Apr 17, 2020

Nature is coming back in full force since most of the world has enacted lockdown procedures during the coronavirus pandemic.

Bevies of seashells are starting to build up on North Carolina shores after visitors were banned from visiting beaches. With no tourists picking up shells to take home as souvenirs, they’ve been left to grow in numbers on the sand, the Charlotte Observer reports.

A video of the seaside landscape was shared to Cape Lookout National Sheashore’s official Facebook page.

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Footage shows the waves washing in and out, lapping against the shell-covered shore.

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The video, viewed more than 5,000 times, has captured much attention, with some reckoning the shell piles could reach “about a foot high” by the time people are allowed back on the beach.

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According to the local publication, the Outer Banks — where the video was taken — are considered to have some of the nation’s best beaches for shell collecting.

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For some shell enthusiasts, the untouchable beach is just torture to see. “That was just plain mean to tease us with the shells, when we can do nothing about them,” one Facebook user commented. “My daughter and I collected over 50 large conchs last September at Cape Lookout,” another person wrote. “I can’t even imagine what’s there since the quarantine.”

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As of Friday afternoon, North Carolina had more than 5,900 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 171 deaths.

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others.

Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate. Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease.

If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities. To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.

meaghan.wray@globalnews.ca

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