Parts of Florida reopening beaches despite virus. Some say this is a ‘crazy, bad idea’
Beaches and parks were to reopen in parts of North Florida at 5 p.m. Friday, but not everyone is thrilled that this aspect of social isolation apparently has ended.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is considering opening spaces in phases and met Friday afternoon with representatives from beaches, boating, parks and golf courses to determine a course of action for the county, his spokeswoman said.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said that parks and beaches in Duval County would reopen Friday but with certain restrictions, WLRN reported.
‘This is really a crazy bad idea,’ Jacksonville resident Deborah Melvin told ABC News. ‘I’m afraid. I’m afraid for myself. I’m afraid for my family. Everybody should use their common sense.”
Restrictions on beach use
Perhaps eyeing the public relations disaster that was spring break in Miami Beach in March, Curry said restrictions would allow “essential activities” only.
This means walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming, taking care of pets and surfing are allowed so long as they are done while practicing the social distancing guidelines we’ve become accustomed to for a month to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
“This can be the beginning of the pathway back to normal life,” Curry said on social media. But he also admonished: “Don’t ruin this for everyone.”
Florida is still under a stay at home order due to the coronavirus so the access to these beaches is limited to recreational activities only. There are to be no chairs, no coolers and no gathering together to sit, sip brews and chat.
Beach hours in Duval County will limited to morning and evening hours. They’ll remain closed between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
As of Friday, Duval County has had 794 people test positive for the coronavirus and 14 deaths, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Sarasota County commissioners also plan to talk next week about whether they should open their beaches, too, at the urging of Commissioner Christian Ziegler, reported the Herald-Tribune.
Florida, Miami-Dade cases
Florida’s health department confirmed 779 additional cases of COVID-19 in its Friday morning report. The rise brings the state total of confirmed cases to 24,119. Another 18 people died, raising the statewide death toll to 686.
Three more men and four women died in Miami-Dade, raising the county’s death toll to 190 — the highest in the state.
However, these numbers are likely to be significantly undercounted because they do not include the results of thousands of pending tests from private labs that have taken as long as two weeks to be added to the state’s official count.
This story was originally published April 17, 2020 at 3:00 PM.
