North Florida beaches set to reopen on Friday

by | Apr 17, 2020


Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday gave the green light for some beaches in North Florida to reopen, becoming the first beaches to reopen in the state since the COVID-19 virus forced beachgoers and vacationers to stay away.

Some of the first to open back up to the public will be the Duval Beaches after Mayor Lenny Curry announced that parks and beaches in the county would reopen Friday at 5 p.m. with certain restrictions.

Those restrictions would be limited to only “essential activities,” as defined by an executive order issued by the governor. Those activities include walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming and surfing. Sunbathing or lounging is still prohibited.

The beaches will be open between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Gatherings of 50 or more people are prohibited and people must still practice social distancing.

Reopening will take time and be done in thoughtful measured steps,” Curry tweeted late Thursday. “As we Open areas it is important for folks to practice social distancing. Let’s get the beach and park openings with limitations right. Keep moving. No large groups.”

Florida officials were criticized for leaving beaches open during spring break last month. Most counties closed their beaches in response to the outbreak. Other beaches — like those in Miami — were closed via executive order.

At a news conference in Fort Lauderdale today, DeSantis encouraged some municipalities to start reopening parks and beaches, but only if they were able to follow guidelines and adhere to social distancing measures.

“Do it in a good way. Do it in a safe way,” DeSantis said.

2 Comments

  1. Mary

    We need to get FLorida back on track to open all NOW! This is crippling many of us financial to no return! Quarantine the Sick, not the Well!

  2. Nonya Business

    The stupidity is so deep on so many levels it’s incredible to wonder how many of you ever made it through school let alone became politicians. We can come to the beach with the same family we’re locked in doors with but we cannot sit on the beach and just enjoy the scenery. Wake the hell up America. These idiots are running us just like their buddies in China who started all of this. It’s time to stand up and fight and the fight begins with voting all communists out of America’s government!

 

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