You can swim, but you can’t sunbathe. How COVID-19 has changed a trip to Broward beaches
Broward County beaches are reopening in limited fashion Tuesday. You can swim, surf and exercise.
But there’s one thing you can’t do: Work on your summer tan in the sand.
That’s one of the many beach activities currently banned as Broward slowly reopens following a two month COVID-19 shutdown. Miami-Dade beaches are expected to reopen June 1, the same day the Florida Keys will accept tourists again.
But there’s something else beachgoers should be aware of on this first day back: Forecasters are calling for another rainy day after a stormy Memorial Day holiday weekend, and have extended South Florida’s flood advisory through Tuesday night.
Depending on what you want to do at the beach, it might be best to leave it for another day. Beaches will be open, with restrictions, from sunrise to sunset. Broward County’s emergency order doesn’t mention masks at the beach, but it has given its cities and towns the authority to enforce stricter requirements.
Here’s what you should expect if you visit the beach during this time of social distancing:
What you can do now that Broward beaches have reopened
▪ “Limited ocean activities” such as swimming, surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding and body surfing.
▪ Walking, running, biking or other “limited recreational exercise activities.”
▪ Remember: Everyone is required to stay at least six feet away from others at all times, unless you live in the same household or are visiting the beach together.
Beaches have reopened in Broward: What’s not allowed
▪ No picnicking, sunbathing, sitting or lying on the beach.
▪ No umbrellas, canopies, chairs, loungers or coolers allowed.
▪ No group or organized sports, including but not limited to, volleyball, soccer or football.
▪ No group gathering or events of more than 10 people.
This story was originally published May 26, 2020 at 10:14 AM.
