Two downtown beaches in Oak Bluffs reopened to swimming Thursday after a two-day closure because of high counts of bacteria found in the water, according to the health agent.

Inkwell and Pay Beaches were closed around 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oak Bluffs health agent Shirley Fauteux told the Gazette, and reopened Thursday morning.

Samples of beach water were collected Monday morning showed high levels of bacteria that mandated a closure. Results are not available until 24 hours following the sampling.

Water samples collected Wednesday morning showed normal bacterial levels, Ms. Fauteux confirmed by email Thursday.

High bacterial counts can be triggered by heavy rainfall. The Island got about one-quarter of an inch of rainfall Sunday, but Ms. Fauteux said she does not speculate on the cause of a high bacterial count.

The jetty beach at East Chop was closed to swimming last week, she said, but this was the first time the downtown beaches have been closed to swimming this year.