President isolating in North Shores

President Joe Biden will spend the next few days at his North Shores home near Rehoboth Beach after testing positive for COVID-19. 

Information on how long he will be staying is limited. The White House issued a Daily Guidance and Press Schedule, but doesn’t say how long he will be in town; however, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight restriction notice that went into effect at 10:45 p.m., July 17, and ends at 9:15 p.m., Sunday, July 21.

Biden was in town last weekend too, but he cut his trip short following the shooting of former President Donald Trump. For the most part, when the president is in town, there’s not too much of a disturbance to the local communities. That said, due to recent events, it’s unclear if there will be heightened security measures while the president is in town.

These are the typical security measures that are put in place:

• Gordons Pond users could see restrictions. The park’s parking lot is just around the corner from Biden’s home and is used as a landing site for Marine One.

• If Biden decides to drive, motorists on Route 1 should be prepared for delays. By road, there’s really only one way to his house – southbound on Route 1, then through Rehoboth Beach. As the presidential motorcade makes its way south, police and state personnel sit at all intersections blocking traffic.

• The FAA’s temporary flight restrictions limit use of the airspace – including drones – from Dover south to Ocean City, Md., and west to the Maryland border.

• The Coast Guard establishes security zones in the ocean area immediately in front of North Shores beach and in the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal.

Typically, when he’s in town, the president can be expected to make at least one outing to church. However, because the president has COVID and will be self-isolating, he likely won’t be seen out and about. If he is seen, send photos to reporter Chris Flood at cflood@capegazette.com.