State and local officials at oceanfront beaches from Delaware to Virginia that closed due to medical waste washing ashore are hopeful that they could reopen to the public “in the next few days.”

Medical wastes washing ashore at Assateague Island National Seashore in Virginia and Maryland have led to a closure of all ocean-facing beaches to swimming or wading.

Sixty state and federal agencies are working busily to try to contain an onshore wash of medical waste over the weekend along the coastline from Delaware down to Virginia.