Authorities urged Americans to maintain social distancing and wear masks to protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus amid reports of packed beaches and bars during the Memorial Day weekend.Details: Law enforcement stepped up beach patrols, and there were crowded scenes in several places, notably at Lake of the Ozarks bars in Missouri and at Daytona Beach and on the Gulf Coast in Florida, per AP. Police dispersed crowds in some places, ABC notes. But many Americans did take precautions against COVID-19 as they ventured outside for the long weekend, some three months after the pandemic began in the U.S.With the relaxing of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions, visitors crowd the boardwalk on Memorial Day weekend in Ocean City, Maryland. REUTERS Photo by Kevin Lamarque pic.twitter.com/jTLCizWwr4— Jim Bourg (@jimbourg) May 23, 2020 The big picture: Retail and recreation has become steadily available in many states over the past two weeks, as nearly every state across the U.S. has taken steps to reopen their economies partially or completely, per analysis by the New York Times.New York, Kansas, North Carolina and Indiana began to ease more stay-at-home restrictions over the weekend, the NYT reports. Many people did take precautions against COVID-19, as Americans ventured outside to enjoy the weekend some three months after the pandemic began spreading across the U.S. People wait for President Trump and first lady Melania Trump to participate in a Memorial Day Ceremony at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 25. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Lake Tillery in Mount Gilead, North Carolina, on May 25. Photo: Al Drago/Getty Images An Abraham Lincoln and Civil War-era actors interact with members of the public at Los Angeles National Cemetery on May 25. Photo: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images Washington Memorial Park in SeaTac, Washingto, on May 25. Photo: David Ryder/Getty Images Venice Beach in Los Angeles on May 24. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images The entrance to Sheep Meadow in New York City's Central Park on May 24. Photo: Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images The line for a water park in Kissimmee, Florida, on May 23. Photo: Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland on May 23. Photo: Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images The boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland on May 23. Photo: Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images Holly Meyer hands out flags to volunteers at the Calverton National Cemetery in Wading River, New York on May 23. Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on May 23. Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images The boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland on May 23. Photo: Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images Retired U.S. Marine Corps Brian Carabine, 78, replaces the U.S. flags at the South End Cemetery in East Hampton, New York on May 23. Photo: Astrid Riecken/Getty Images Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on May 23. Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images A member of the Army's 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment places flags at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday. Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP Stephen Wilmer of Lindenhurst, N.Y., tries to get a kite aloft for his daughter, Emma, in a light breeze at Jones Beach on Long Island. Photo; Kathy Willens/APNo covid concerns at the lake of the ozarks😳 #loto pic.twitter.com/Yrb4UNM64u— Scott Pasmore (@scottpasmoretv) May 24, 2020 Go deeper: Trump's holiday weekend pressure campaignEditor's note: This article has been updated with more details on the holiday weekend.