Which Florida beaches are open this Labor Day Weekend? Which are closed?

Coronavirus concept. "Stop Coronavirus" written on sand.
Every county has at least some open beaches, but many enforce restrictions.

While Florida leaders caught flak for leaving many beaches open during Spring Break, the COVID-19 pandemic eventually led nearly every coastal government in Florida to quarantine the dunes. But with cases surging and the occasional holiday weekend drawing more to the beach, some jurisdictions have announced further closures. The Labor Day holiday has prompted new closures.

Most communities have reopened their shores, but a variety of restrictions exist in localities across the state. So where can you find a slice of sand and how are officials keeping you safe?

Florida Politics is maintaining a running compilation of beach openings and closings. Holiday closures top the list.

LABOR DAY CLOSURES

Palm Beach County

The Town of Palm Beach will close its shores from Sept. 5 to Sept. 7, the Palm Beach Daily News reported.

Monroe County

The Village of Islamorada issued a notice only that beaches in the popular key will be closed through Labor Day.

But most coastal counties have eased restrictions …

Big Bend

Dixie County: Beaches open

There have been no park or beach closures announced at Visit Dixie County or the county government website, nor have the beaches been closed at any point in the pandemic thus far.

Franklin County: Beaches open

County officials fully reopened all beaches to the public as of noon on May 15, WTXL reports. The beaches, beginning May 4, had opened for limited hours, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. The public will be able to access beaches from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. County Commissioners previously closed all beaches in the county as of March 27.

Levy County: Beaches open

There’s no complete shutdown of recreational facilities listed on the county website. The popular destination Cedar Key had restricted travel only to residents and those with prior reservations. Those restrictions were in place from March 25 to May 4.

Taylor County: Beaches open

The county opened boat ramps on May 7 and opened parks with limited parking. Officials say parking lots at Keaton Beach are now fully open but roadside parking is still restricted. County Commissioners had previously closed county parks and beaches effective March 27. The county later closed all but the Keaton Beach boat ramp, which for a period was only open for commercial fishermen, according to the county.

Wakulla County: Beaches open

County Commissioner Ralph Thomas announced Shell Point Beach and Mashes Sands Beach are open for all uses, WCTV reports. The beaches had been closed since sunset March 23, according to Visit Wakulla.

Central Florida

Brevard County: Beaches open

County officials as of May 1 opened beaches and public parking lots for beaches, according to Visit Space Coast. Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Indialantic and Indian Harbour Beach voted to open their beaches to sunbathing while restricting gatherings to no more than five people, according to Florida Today. Ahead of the July 4 holiday, Cocoa Beach officials put a 10-person restriction on beach gatherings. Alcohol is banned on Cocoa Beach, where officials are cracking down on littering as well. Melbourne Beach has reopened to limited use for residents only. But parking in cities remains closed and many businesses are towing beachgoers parked on private property. Cape Canaveral beaches are open for walking, jogging, biking, fishing, surfing and swimming. Apollo Beach and Playalinda Beach have restrictions on parking lost and bathroom access.

Indian River Beach County: Beaches open

The guarded beaches in the county — Vero Beach, Golden Sands, Wabasso Beach, Tracking Station Beach, Round Island Beach and Indian River Shores — fully opened as of May 5, reports TC Palm. But for Independence Day weekend, beaches will only be open to residents from 1 a.m. July 3 until July 5 at 10 p.m., Florida Today reports. The beaches previously opened with limited uses on April 28 from sunrise to sunset, Florida Today reports. Previously, officials announced beaches in the county and Vero Beach were closed starting March 23.

Volusia County: Beaches open

County officials announced that as of April 25 all beaches in the county, including the popular spring break destination of Daytona Beach, are now available to use. Beginning on May 2, all beaches fully opened, with social distancing enforced. On Memorial Day weekend, crowds led the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office to temporarily close down the beach and bridges leading to crowded areas, Spectrum News 13 reported. But that was in response to a specific event. Most recently, the beaches were reopened to vehicles, WKMG reports. The beaches had been closed to all activity including pedestrians walking, but county officials loosened restrictions to allow walking, jogging, biking, fishing, surfing and swimming. Now sitting and sunbathing are allowed. Social distancing is still encouraged.

Panhandle

Bay County: Beaches open

Bay County Commissioners voted to reopen beaches in unincorporated areas as of April 24 for a transitional phase, according to WJHG-TV. As of May 2, the beaches were open with no local restrictions. The Panama Beach City Council voted to fully open its beaches the same day. Meanwhile, the Mexico Beach City Council voted to reopen the beaches for limited hours and activities, according to the Northwest Daily News. That beach remains open only from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and the city now allows beach chairs and other items, but parking lots are still closed.

Escambia County: Beaches open

Pensacola Beach and other local beaches reopened as of May 1, reports the Pensacola News Journal. Public restrooms and an area under the pier will remain closed. County Commissioners previously voted to close Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key Beach, according to the Pensacola News Journal.

Gulf County: Beaches open

County Commissioners fully opened beaches May 1, WJHG reports. The county previously voted April 21 to reopen beaches for limited time periods, WMBB reports.

Okaloosa County: Beaches open

County commissioners fully opened all county beaches May 6, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports. County beaches opened for recreational use starting May 1, the Pensacola News Journal previously reported, with limited hours. Commissioners said social distancing measures are still in place.

Santa Rosa County: Beaches open

County commissioners fully opened Navarre Beach and the fishing pier there without restrictions May 6, reports the Pensacola News Journal. County beaches opened for recreational use May 1 with limited hours, but law enforcement said beachgoers have practiced responsible social distancing. The beach had previously been closed since March 21.

Walton County: Most beaches open 

All public beaches in the county reopened on May 1. Initially, only limited activity was allowed, according to the Northwest Florida Daily News. As on May 12, county commissioners allowed all beach vendors to return to work and for more lounging on the beach. Walton County’s previous beach closure withstood a test in court. A notable exception, military leaders closed the Eglin East Pass Beach Area. The 96th Test Wing Commander, Brig. Gen. Scott Cain ordered the area closed due to increased activity leading to unsafe conditions, unauthorized commercial activities on federal property, and to protect the Eglin range, a national asset, according to a news release from Eglin. That closure became effective May 8.

Northeast Florida

Duval County: Beaches open

All restrictions on beach use were formally lifted in the county May 6, according to The Florida Times-Union. Mayor Lenny Curry had previously ordered all beaches closed indefinitely starting on March 20, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. Beaches began to reopen on April 18 with social distancing enforced. Activities were initially limited to walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming, taking care of pets and surfing. Beaches opened for limited times starting May 4, The Florida Times-Union reports.

Flagler County: Beaches open 

County officials announced on April 21 all beaches would open for “physical and mental health activities.” As of April 29, all restrictions of activities on the beach were lifted, but social distancing recommendations remain in effect.

Nassau County: Beaches open with restrictions

County officials opened beaches on May 1 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. according, to Action News Jax. Most recently, the county said residents and activity military could once again drive on the beaches. The Sheriff’s Office previously announced the closure of all beaches in the county as of March 22, according to News4Jax. City officials have now reopened Fernandina Beach with identical restrictions to those on county beaches, according to the Amelia Island Tourism Development Council.

St. Johns County: Beaches open 

St. Johns County beaches fully reopened on May 4, according to The St. Augustine Record. After a viral photo seriously shamed St. Johns County, officials closed beaches effective March 29.

South Florida

Broward County: Beaches open with restrictions, closing for holiday weekend

Broward County officials reopened beached on May 26 with restrictions, according to Local 10 News. The long-awaited reopening was put off until after Memorial Day weekend. But the beaches will close for Independence Day weekend, from July 3 through July 5. There is no sunbathing or lounging allowed right now and law enforcement will break up gatherings of more than 10 people. County Administrator Bertha Henry previously set May 26 as a target date to up beaches, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. The Hollywood Broadwalk opened to walk from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 13, reports Local 10Municipal leaders in seven cities, including Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, expressed a desire to open beaches as of May 26, but County Mayor Dale Holness stressed it makes sense to coordinate with Miami-Dade, The Miami Herald reports. Deerfield, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Pompano Beach all closed beaches starting March 18, according to Local 10 News. Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered the rest of the beaches in the county closed as of March 20.

Miami-Dade County: Beaches open with restrictions, closing for holiday

Miami-Dade officials reopened beaches on June 10, the last Florida city to do so since the beginning of the pandemic. But County Mayor Carlos Giménez said because of a spike in cases afterward, he will close the beaches for Independence Day weekend, from July 3-7. When the beaches are open, it’s still with restrictions. Face coverings are required except for children under 2 and those engaged in strenuous beach activity; masks will not be required while individuals are in the ocean. Social distancing will be enforced and bathroom attendants will encourage sanitizing hands. County officials originally planned to reopen beaches on June 1, but massive protests over George Floyd‘s death forced Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giminez to delay that move. The beaches will not reopen until a nightly curfew lifts, which has yet to happen in the county. He said beaches will reopen when a curfew tied to the protests lifts. When beaches reopen, there will be restrictions strictly enforced, according to NBC-6 South Florida. Visitors can walk, jog, swim, surf, sunbathe, kayak and paddleboard. The requirement doesn’t apply to children under the age of 2. Groups will be limited to 10 people or less and social distancing will be required except for family members living in the same home. Pets aren’t allowed, fishing will be confined to a few areas and there will be no sharing of equipment. The city of Miami Beach previously announced it was targeting June 1 to reopen its hotels and beaches, and county officials made clear mask requirements will remain, according to the Miami Herald. The opening of South Florida’s most high-profile beach is expected to prompt other beaches in the county to open as well. Giménez on March 19 ordered all beaches closed in the community, the first South Florida jurisdiction to do so. Miami Beach falls within the city’s jurisdiction.

Martin County: Beaches open 

As of May 20, beaches in the county were open to the public, TC Palm reports. The county will fully close beaches for the Independence Day weekend, beginning at 6 p.m. July 2, Florida Today reports. The beaches will reopen July 6 at 6 a.m. The county initially reopened beaches on May 4 with restrictions, but after seeing excessive crowds, access to the beaches was restricted to only county residents as of May 14, WPBF reports. Individuals have to sit at least six feet apart with social distancing enforced. Hobe Sound, which borders Palm Beach County, was initially left closed but was reopened on May 20. However parking lots there remain restricted. County Commissioners have considered limiting beach access to weekdays after seeing high Mother’s Day weekend traffic, according to the Palm. County Commissioners previously closed all public county beaches as of March 22, according to WPTV.

Monroe County: Beaches open, closing for holiday weekend

Key West city leaders on April 27 opened all parks and beaches, according to the Key West Citizen. But Monroe County Commissioners have voted to close the beaches for Independence Day weekend, from July 2 at 5 p.m. until the morning of July 7, CBS 12 reports. Through May few could reach the Keys. County Commissioners starting imposed limitations beginning March 24 limiting residents and workers access to the string of islands via U.S. 1; that restriction lifted on June 1. Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 30 issued a safer at home order closing down all nonessential business in South Florida counties until mid-April. County beaches never closed. However, Keys Weekly reports some municipalities closed beaches under their jurisdiction. Marathon and Islamorada reopened beaches on May 4.

Palm Beach County: Beaches open with restrictions, closing for a holiday weekend

Mayor Dave Kerner announced beaches will be closed from July 3 through 5 to stop a holiday weekend rush, WPTV reports. County Commissioners opened beaches on May 18, and ultimately allowed all members of the public instead of limiting to county residents, 12 News reports. The county is considering closing beaches for Independence Day weekend, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. Municipalities are allowed to decide if their own beaches remain closed. Palm Beach town leaders will keep beaches closed until May 26. Boca Raton opened to pedestrian activity only and left beachfront parks closed. Delray Beach also opened up, Local 10 reports. Riviera Beach voted to reopen its beaches as of noon on May 19, The Palm Beach Post reports. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order closing all Palm Beach beaches as of March 20, but left it to local government when to reopen them. DeSantis has lifted a statewide stay-at-home order but it initially remained in effect for three South Florida counties with the state’s highest numbers of infections. After Palm Beach County leaders suggested the community may now be on the other side of the curve, DeSantis agreed to allow Phase One reopening there as of May 11.

St. Lucie County: Beaches open

County Commissioners voted to reopen beaches beginning April 28, and lifted all temporary restrictions on uses and activities as of May 7, reports TC Palm. County beaches closed March 23 after crowds failed to adhere to social distancing, TC Palm reports.

Southwest Florida

Charlotte County: Beaches open

Charlotte County Commissioners authorized county administration to reopen the beaches on April 27, according to County Commissioner Bill Truex. County beaches were closed in Charlotte County since March 22, with deputies threatening $500 fines to those breaking the rules, according to NBC-2

Collier County: Beaches open with restrictions

County Commissioners voted to restrict hours from July 3 through July 7. Beaches during that span will only be open from 7 to 11 a.m., then again from 5 p.m. until dusk on those days, NBC-2 reports. County Commissioners previously voted to reopen its beaches beginning April 30, according to the Naples Daily News. But after nearly two weeks fully open, commissioners limited weekend hours to 7 to 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. to sunset. Naples and Marco Island opened beaches in city jurisdiction as of April 30, though the Naples Pier will remain closed, according to WINK News. Naples briefly closed its beaches again because of overcrowding, the first Florida beach to close a second time after reopening amid the pandemic. But the City Council on June 9 voted to reopen the beaches with normal operating hours. As of May 11, the city beach has weekend restrictions on umbrellas, coolers and tents, WTSP reports. The beach will be open sunrise to sunset during weekdays, but only from 7 to 11 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to sunset on weekends. The City of Naples closed its beaches as of March 18, and Collier County followed suit, closing its beaches on March 19, according to the Naples Daily News.

Lee County: Beaches open

Lee County Commissioners voted to reopen beaches April 29 at sunrise. That includes parking lots and with regular hours. Social distancing will be enforced. Sanibel officials have signaled they will follow the county’s lead. The Town of Fort Myers Beach voted to reopen its beaches to the public May 2, WINK News reports. Parking will remain closed and only essential activities such as running and walking are permitted. Additionally, beachgoers must wear face masks. Fort Myers Beach initially reopened only to residents of the town.

Manatee County: Beaches open, some local restrictions

The County Commission voted unanimously to open beaches in the county starting May 4. As of May 13, beaches were open from sunrise to 10 p.m., a two-hour limit on parking was lifted and parking lots were fully reopened, WTSP reports. Beaches the prior nine days had opened with limited hours and parking. Cities such as Anna Maria and Holmes Beach still can restrict parking. Longboat Key officials on June 29 closed parking lots for beaches because of a surge in cases, ABC Action News reports. County leaders previously closed down all beaches, including those on barrier islands like Anna Maria Island, starting on March 20, reports the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Vendors still cannot operate on the beaches.

Sarasota County: Beaches open, some local restrictions

Sarasota County fully opened beaches, including parking, as of May 4, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Social distancing and restrictions on groups of 10 or more are still enforced. Longboat Key officials closed parking lots for beaches on June 29 because of a surge in cases, ABC Action News reports. County Commissioners previously voted to open the beaches to essential physical activity like walking, surfing and fishing starting April 27, but parking lots at the time remained closed. Cities are still able to close beaches within their borders. Venice has the same existing limitations as the county on Venice Beach. The City of Sarasota opened Lido Beach beginning on May 19, and urged the use of face masks.

Tampa Bay

Citrus County: Beaches open

County Commissioners voted to reopen all beaches and parks beginning on May 1, reports The Citrus Chronicle. That includes Fort Island Gulf and Hernando Beaches.

Hernando County: Beaches open

County Commissioners voted on April 28 to reopen all parks and beaches, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

Hillsborough County: Most beaches open

Four beaches run by the city of Tampa were reopened May 4, including Ben T. Davis Beach, Cypress Point Park, Davis Islands Seaplane Basin and Picnic Island Park. All beaches and parks in unincorporated Hillsborough County, including Apollo Beach, remain closed except for walking trails. The county beaches have been closed since March 28, according to WUSF.

Pasco County: Most Beaches open with restrictions

County officials opened most of its beaches and parks as of May 3, but only for limited activity like jogging, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Officials had closed area beaches at four county-managed parks as of March 20.

Pinellas County: Beaches open

County Commissioners voted to open beaches, with some restrictions, starting May 4 at 7 a.m. And as of May 28, social distancing and other restrictions are no longer enforced. Visitors are now allowed to bring chairs and sunbathe, but officials originally limited groups to no more than 10 people following reopening. Social distancing is encouraged, but not enforced.

Jacob Ogles

Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. His work has appeared nationally in The Advocate, Wired and other publications. Events like SRQ’s Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Florida’s most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. He can be reached at [email protected].


58 comments

  • Dianne Lee

    March 31, 2020 at 1:34 pm

    It’s perfectly fine with me for those idiots to frolic in the surf. That’s called survival of the fittest. But, the people who have to travel and share the airplane home and the health care workers who are going to have to risk their own lives to take care of them don’t deserve to have to deal with them. I think they should determine if new cases were contracted because it was actually necessary or if they got it while playing in the surf, and stack those morons in the hospital parking lot and let nature take it’s course.

    • Buck Weezer

      April 10, 2020 at 10:36 am

      Stop living in unreasonable fear. “That’s called survival of the fittest,” you say. Exactly. The virus doesn’t kill fit people. It barely even makes them sick. If you’re at risk, stay home if you’d like.

      • karen

        April 17, 2020 at 3:04 pm

        wrong! our neighbor is a 34 year old marathon runner and ended up in the hospital! there are two strains of the virus!

        • jim

          April 17, 2020 at 4:51 pm

          oh no, hide under your bed, we are all gonna die !!!

        • Motch

          June 12, 2020 at 10:12 am

          Fact; infection death rate 30 -40 without pre existing conditions .001% Cower in your living room if you like

      • Nick

        April 18, 2020 at 9:39 am

        Omg, dead wrong sweety. Healthy people die from this as well as old and young. Nobody is exempt from this including YOU.

        • The Great COVID Panic of 2020

          April 21, 2020 at 8:59 am

          Look at the data. More people over the age of 100 have died than under the age of 40. Think about that. Or spend the next year hiding in your house waiting for a vaccine that may never come. Whatever.

        • Chris

          May 28, 2020 at 3:46 pm

          Based on the statistic, deaths were elderly in nursing homes and hospice. There are always outliers but no one under 15 has died anywhere from covid and almost all deaths had co-morbidities. Not my opinion but statistics out there. We have to get out. No one said to be locked up until the virus disappears from the planet.

    • Barbara

      April 18, 2020 at 10:53 am

      Wow Dianne. Just. Stop.

    • Robert Edwards

      April 22, 2020 at 7:19 pm

      Grow up – the whole thing is a hoax – did you get paid to write this comment? There is so much evidence to prove that the Coronavirus is typical type of flu – so far the count does not come close to those deaths from Flu. There is more evidence to prove this is a psy-op manufactured to bring about mandatory vaccines, chipping, and a one world currency. The media (run by CIA) and Hollywood have been getting us ready for this for over 10 years. I was in healthcare and the hospitals I know are empty. Yes, the nurses are dancing because there are no patients. My friends son died of a brain tumor and they put cause of death down as COVID-19. And, the cause of death from the many other maladies have because of COVID-19. They desperately need numbers so they are making ALL hospital death due to the Coronavirus. I am sicken how easy it has been to totally hoodwink the masses. And to perpetuate the scam reports are coming out that a more virulent virus will be hitting us in December. Again the people will believe everything they hear on CNN and the other gutterpress news channels.
      Stanford Professor John Ioannidis showed that the age-corrected lethality of Covid19 is between 0.025% and 0.625%, i.e. in the range of a strong cold or the flu.
      Biovirus: Dr. Francis Boyle
      https://mbfpage.blogspot.com/2020/02/dr-francis-boyle-creator-of-bioweapons.html

      • Dana

        April 22, 2020 at 10:17 pm

        If you want to believe this is a hoax, shame on you. Florida now has 28,576 people infected and 927 dead. The country has 848,994 people infected and 47,676 dead. Globally, 2,592,402 people are infected & 181,066 dead.

        How many more people do you want dead to prove there is a serious virus to contend with. My honest feeling is Florida & the Governor are under reporting the numbers and the bullshit about the empty hospitals. It doesn’t make sense. Why aren’t we seeing any coverage of doctors or conditions at the hospitals in Florida? It’s a sham and it doesn’t make me feel safe. I don’t know if you are a doctor or a nurse & you have proof that the hospitals are empty, but I don’t believe your assumption for a second. I think it’s insulting that you are implying that nurses are dancing around because there are no patients. In fact it’s quite revolting.

        My uncle was hospitalized in NY with the virus & his wife was in isolation. Children are dying. It’s scary. People really get this virus. It’s real & it could happen to everyone.

        No one is immune!!!

        You want to fight science, your choice, your life. Protect yourself or not. Good luck.

        • Steve

          May 23, 2020 at 9:37 am

          22,000,000 reside inFlorida.
          927 deaths. The percentage is .000042
          Dont believe me? Multiply .000042 x 22 million.
          Answer is 927
          So lets freak out right. Your all nuts. Science does prevail. This is a scamdemic.
          And fools like you, who vote democrat, whom should stay in NY. And not soil
          our beaches and communities with your leftest, Pelosi beliefs, arent welcomed in
          Florida anyways. We will do just fine without your opinion, and annoying accent.
          Stay home hugging your pillow and scared of the sunlight. Let Floridians
          enjoy their beaches. In other words STFU

    • Karen Malnati

      July 3, 2020 at 8:02 am

      Geez, Hate much? It’s not reasonable to expect young people to live in isolation with their parents or alone in an apartment for years at a time.

      This was supposed to be a TWO WEEK shutdown. We’re already Months into it, and some people such as yourself are demanding a never-ending lockdown until it’s 100% safe? LIFE is not 100% safe, so get over yourself.

      The Death toll we were sold was 4.5 MILLION people in the US, to make us all obey. What are we up to now? 120 thousand? And that pretty much includes ALL Deaths in the entire country! (Since they are known to be counting pretty much EVERY death as a COVID death – Including gunshot wounds and suicides! They also admit they’re overcounting dramatically, so why are you still so vitriolic about it.

      No one is threatening your life here. If you are still afraid, stay home, wear your mask, wash your purchases, and live your life. No one is FORCING you to do anything, so why are you so determined to FORCE others to your will?

      People will, and SHOULD be allowed to make up their own minds, based on available information. Had we known in March, what we know now, there never would have been a Shutdown. Period. And we’d all have herd immunity by now, and the elderly could walk among us, without fear, due to that herd immunity.

      As long as you continue to insist that young people – who are at extremely low risk of being hurt by it, stay inside cowering in fear, we’ll never be able to achieve the herd immunity. That is the GOAL. Get them all sick, so they can get over it, and their immunity will prevent the spread, because they won’t get it anymore, and they won’t be able to spread it anymore, either.

      I’m eldery, I have underlying issues, and yet I have stopped wearing the mask. I have stopped living in fear. THis is a Scam at this point, and those officials who are still insisting on locking down their citizens are profiting from it, or hope to extort money from the Fed, to restore their poorly run states, and wash away their sins with YOUR Money.

      You should Rail against that, if you want to wish someone dead. Wish it on the Dem-controlled cities and states that are currently letting their cities go up in flames, while refusing to protect the citizens who live there. THEY desrve your wrath – not some teenager who’s been locked up for months on end, for playing at the beach.

      • Dana

        July 3, 2020 at 9:03 pm

        Karen,
        So sick of hearing this bullshit. Your attitude is unbelievable, but predictable. This is not a hoax. What don’t you understand? 11,182,576 people around the world have coronavirus.
        If we had taken action immediately & acted under real leadership, we would not be in the place we are right now. Do you know, that there are 2,890,406 people who have the virus right now in America & the numbers continue to rise? In Florida alone everyday – we are seeing almost 10,000 people infected daily. I wonder why? Do you have any idea why the Mayor of Miami shut everything down? It’s because that’s the only way to get the numbers down. You have to test, trace, social distance & quarantine. There is no magic in this – it’s the way it is – LIKE IT, OR NOT. In fact other countries have beat this virus & have gone back to living almost normally. They were UNIFIED, under great leadership & they followed SCIENCE. You don’t want to wear your mask – DON’T, but know that you are being SELFISH, because you are not being considerate of anyone you come in contact with. I have a question for you, what makes you INVINCIBLE? Why do you think that your immune to this virus & that everyone doesn’t have to social distance or stay 6 feet apart? What’s so hard about doing these things, if it means slowing/ending this thing. Flu season is around the corner & we very well may have a 2nd outbreak. EVERY LIFE COUNTS. BTW, the numbers are not inflated. The numbers are reduced by this administration. We have no idea of what’s really going on – especially here in Florida (but that was done, specifically by DeSantis). No need to reply – I know you’ll never understand what I had to say.

      • Dana

        July 3, 2020 at 9:24 pm

        One more thing, Karen.
        178,594 people in Florida currently have the virus. We are #4 (statewide) in terms of cases which keep, growing/daily (all over).

  • Dana

    March 31, 2020 at 7:17 pm

    I don’t know what’s so difficult to understand? Close the damn beaches. Protect the people. Don’t let this virus spread. What’s wrong with the Governor? God help him and this State.

    • phd

      April 6, 2020 at 12:14 pm

      retard

    • patsy t francese

      April 8, 2020 at 12:12 pm

      u got that right.these a holes dont get it

  • Randy

    April 5, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    It’s been tested and confirmed that the Covid-19 virus does mix with run-off water and enter the ocean. During shore-break, the mist can and does transport available Covie-19 to the beach. It’s not okay for locals to surf as they can not only become infected but also pass the virus along.

    • Jennie

      April 17, 2020 at 10:13 am

      Please provide links to this research. I believe this is highly unlikely.

    • Basic Science Ed should be mandatory

      April 21, 2020 at 9:02 am

      I can’t imagine living my life so easily duped into believing crap like this. Tell us – do you worry about an alligator coming up from the toilet?

  • JP

    April 7, 2020 at 10:20 am

    thank you for the good research! 😀

  • Keith Moon

    April 7, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    These beach closings are nothing more than “control” of the people. Please tell me why I can get on a city bus ass cheek to ass cheek with 50 people in a confined space, but cannot walk down the beach by myself…..Control

    • Nathalie

      April 19, 2020 at 2:06 pm

      You are soo dam right ,it is More Control than health,the beach actually salt water kill all germs. And viruses ,

    • Jeff Starling

      April 22, 2020 at 10:57 am

      Exactly Keith!! I have been going to Lowes,Home Depot, Wal-Mart and Publix with wall to wall people…being outdoors at the beach in the sun and fresh air is really good for you and you are more spread out than being in any store…like you said it is about control.

      • Luls Robs

        May 2, 2020 at 9:47 am

        Not to mention UV rays KILL viruses.

  • JJ

    April 9, 2020 at 12:27 am

    THATS FUCKING STUPID. OPEN THE BEACHES. PEOPLE ARE STILL RUNNING, EXERCISING, WALKING AND GOING TO THE MARKET. THE BEACH DOESN’T TRANSMIT A THING. OPEN THE BEACH AND DO ENFORCE SOCIAL DISTANCE. AT LEAST OPEN IT TO PEOPLE WHO DO LIKE OPEN FRESH AIR. TO ALL OF YOU WHO WANT TO CLOSE THE BEACH IM PRETTY SURE THAT YOU ARE THE ONES WHOM GO TO THE F MART WITHOUT A MASK, TOUCH EVERY F THING. TROW AWAY GLOVES EVERYWHERE AND SPEND THE F DAY CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT. TAKE CARE OF OLD PEOPLE AND PERSONS WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION AND THE REST OF THE IDIOTS LIKE YOU GO TO WORK. I DONT HAVE ANY PROBLEM ATTENDING THE SURFERS AT THE HOSPITAL.

    • Dana

      April 9, 2020 at 5:15 am

      The reason I said close the beaches was because of the congregation problem. What happened with the Spring Breakers was really careless and stupid. If you live on a private beach or by an isolated one, ENJOY!!! By the way, I wear my mask, my gloves, disinfect my food, my shoes, my car – EVERYTHING. I’ve already had 2 people in the hospital and 2 in isolation with this virus. Yes, I am taking it seriously. No, I don’t feel that DeSantis has handled this,
      as critically as he should have.

  • Chad

    April 10, 2020 at 9:25 am

    Spring Break is over – reopen the beaches and enforce groups of no more than ten (same as your on-a-boat rules) social distance is going to possibly still need enforcement by beach patrol – BUT OPEN THEN DAMN BEACHES!!

  • JIM SLEAR

    April 11, 2020 at 11:22 am

    FL beaches should ALL be open for individuals or couples who are walking and/or exercising. No chairs, no umbrellas, no tents, no groups, no playing volleyball until we open up nonessential business in that county and according to those rules. Living at the beach I see the risk of allowing gatherings, but restricting responsible beach use is oppressive and irrational. Since the beaches have been closed I have to walk/run on crowded sidewalks. Where is the sense in that!

  • Magaly Aleman

    April 13, 2020 at 1:57 am

    How come Volusia County has loosened restrictions of people on the beach as of April 2nd to walk, run, jog, ride bikes and swim while the rest of the state’s beaches are closed? I don’t understand!

  • Barbara Whelan

    April 17, 2020 at 2:23 pm

    This arrival is dated 4/17, but does not reflect any recent information from Gov DeSantis plans for reopening parts of the states, beaches and pools.

  • jim

    April 17, 2020 at 4:53 pm

    Whats the next get rid of trump scam when this one is over ?

  • Glenn Reihing

    April 17, 2020 at 10:39 pm

    If you pull up Florida’s Covid dashboard for Duval County, you will noticed that in the last 3 days it has trended upward in cases.

    As a retired ER nurse and a former chair for Quality Improvement, I know medical data.

    Now if I was Mayor and I saw the health data trending upward, the smart thing to do was to implement safeguards to stop the spread like closing the beaches because people can’t be trusted to do social distancing. (Take a look at the photos.)

    But what the hell, I’m only talking science here…

    • jim

      April 18, 2020 at 6:02 am

      Glenn,

      Let me guess, you voted for obama twice, cried when hillary lost, and trump is hitler?

      • Glenn Reihing

        April 18, 2020 at 8:10 am

        And that has exactly what to do with data and statistics???

        You can now go back to watching Laura Ingraham.

        • Jeremy

          May 26, 2020 at 11:22 am

          You do realize that the case count is never going to go down right? It is physically impossible. For instance, if you have 50 cases as of today, and someone tests positive, you are going to have 51, not 49 or 48. Essentially, the case count is going to go up, and actually, the more cases there are, the better the numbers look because the ratio of deaths to people who actually have the virus goes down. You also realize that we have a vaccine for flu, and not everyone gets it. But still, 40,000-60,000 people die every year of the flu. Take away the vaccine, and lets see how the numbers compare? Now, when there is a vaccine, it will act the same way. If will slightly limit the umber of reported cases, but it will not cure anyone. There is no cure for the common cold/flu.

      • Dana

        April 18, 2020 at 9:08 pm

        You want to die, be my guest. Don’t wear a mask, don’t social distance, make believe there is no virus. Believe what you want but don’t play the Trump card. Respect whomever anyone chooses to vote for. This is a free country.

    • Jeff Starling

      April 22, 2020 at 11:11 am

      People need to realize that this Coronavirus is going nowhere it is here to stay like the flu but do we shut everything down for the flu…I think not even though it has killed more people thus far this year than the Coronavirus.People say yeah but they have Vaccines for the Flu not the Coronavirus…has the vaccines stopped people from dying from the Flu..NO it hasn’t. So every time new cases of Coronavirus pop up here and there daily do we keep our country in lockdown?? Come on people wake up!!We need to stop living in fear and let this run its course because we can’t keep living like this it will destroy our freedoms and our way of life in this country.

    • DANIEL

      April 22, 2020 at 2:33 pm

      GOOD POINT… TRUST IN PEOPLE SOCIAL DISTANCING WHICH DEFINITELY WILL NOT HAPPEN.

    • Jules

      May 8, 2020 at 10:57 am

      Assume the powers that be aren’t big on science, or really anything that interrupts the flow of money…the country has vilified science, intelligence, competence, for a very long time and now it will suffer the consequences.
      I got out of the states permanently – sad to watch her predictable slide…grateful I was able to leave.

      • Dana

        May 8, 2020 at 8:08 pm

        Jules,

        So sad to say, but if I could, I would leave here in a NY minute. Since he took office, the country has gone to hell & this has taken the cake. Things have to change in November if we want America to be the country it was & has been. Another 4 more years, is just not worth it, for all of us, nationally or globally.

        • Taryn Ztak

          May 19, 2020 at 12:16 pm

          Dana:

          With someone like Biden as President (hair-sniffing, body-touching, creepy, sleepy, senile, dementia bound and, most of all, sexual predator) this country will then go to hell and God help us all !!! SOCIALISM IS EVIL!! Perhaps you will want to leave and head over to New York…..the swamp-ass politicians over there seem to have everything under control…NOT

          • Dana

            May 19, 2020 at 5:21 pm

            Take your comments elsewhere. Our country wouldn’t be where it is, if we elected a qualified, intelligent & moral leader. Most of all, stop this SOCIALISM crap & end this crap about NY, I’m from there and I’m proud to be.

            https://youtu.be/d02A9nmJxcM

  • JJ

    April 19, 2020 at 5:56 am

    Total Tests
    253,183
    Positive
    25,492
    Negative
    225,862. stop wasting resources you idiots and get back to work. this is the data and statistics you are talking about? open the damn beaches. Sorry d oldies and stay back home. im a nurse too and our hospitals are empty. lots of nurses are being flexed cause theres no patients. by the way i live and work in the heart of Miami Dade. supposedly the worst county.

  • Taylor Aldean

    April 20, 2020 at 2:23 am

    What are the total case numbers for Positive, Negative and amount of deaths for the state of Florida?
    What is the population of Florida?

    Heres a lost bit of information that seems to have been overlooked through the pandemic of CV-19…ACCORDING TO THE SURGEON GENERAL OF US, ALL VIRUSES ARE CORONA, HOWEVER THIS IS A SPECIFIC STRAND THAT IS AFFECTING PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY.
    I work in the medical field and my question is, where did the virus actually come from (proven facts), where do the test kits or the components that make up the test kits come from, how many symptomatic people in US were not tested for CV-19, how many people during normal flu season actually go to the dr to be tested for the flu, why did CV-19 run its coarse the later part of our flu season, how did it make its way here Feb, March and leaves by end of April? I thought flu viruses were a based on a seasonal range, what does this mean for CV-19 or the next strand? So much missing information!

    Article I found on Health site.
    Not that you ought to take influenza lightly. Flu season in the US, which runs from October through May, claims tens of thousands of lives every year. This season CDC estimates that, as of mid-March, between 29,000 and 59,000 have died due to influenza illnesses. Add to that the misery of hundreds of thousands of flu-related hospitalizations and millions of medical visits for flu symptoms this season.
    Overall, the CDC estimates that 12,000 and 61,000 deaths annually since 2010 can be blamed on the flu. Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the flu kills 290,000 to 650,000 people per year.

    The annual death rate depends on the specific strain of the virus that is dominant, how well the vaccine is working to protect against that strain, and how many people got vaccinated. The flu can be harder to fight off for specific populations, such as infants and young children, the elderly, and people who are immunocompromised due to chronic illnesses such as HIV or cancer.

  • Stan Brown

    April 20, 2020 at 12:01 pm

    First of all remove the political ads from this posting, it is not relevant. Second, Covid does not survive sunlight, i.e., UV light and clouds do NOT block UV. Has California or Florida reported any cases (abnormal percentages) among surfers vice others? Bet not.

    • Don Draper

      April 21, 2020 at 1:03 pm

      Stan, unless you’re willing to pay to view this website, why don’t you lay off telling them who and who not to accept advertising money from?

    • Andy

      May 10, 2020 at 11:54 pm

      Was in Florida January February March and April temperatures in 90s and just as many getting it in 80 and 90’s do heat does not kill the virus!!

  • Totally Disgusted w/Government

    May 1, 2020 at 3:11 pm

    Welcome to the New America. Our freedoms are going to be slowly taken away, one by one. This is a clear indication on how our government has failed America.

    People who are sick don’t go to the beach, they go to the doctor. You can socially distance all you want at the beach. You can’t at the store. You don’t catch the virus by breathing the sea air.

    You quarantine the sick. You don’t quarantine healthy people.

  • ashley

    May 13, 2020 at 4:49 pm

    Thank you so much, Jacob, for providing this article/page! This is the only place to get specific, succinct details on status of Florida beaches. Namaste

  • Justin Dole

    May 20, 2020 at 2:29 pm

    Opinions are like assholes everyone has one full of shit.
    The virus is real, the fear is overhyped.
    2 things can be true at once, the majority of people who understand this don’t follow politics and don;t comment on twitter or retarded blogs like this.
    Americans are literally the most emotional and pig-headed people on earth, not to mention the most unfit.
    Coronavirus is a danger to old and fat people, the rest of us who are healthy have LOW chance of anything bad happening.
    I know …one of those “2 things can be true at once things” that hurts stupid Americans brains.

  • Matt

    May 22, 2020 at 9:12 am

    I think they should wait to open the beaches a little longer, maybe wait until June just to be safe. I also think it’s a good idea to open beaches because so people can get out of the house, relax, and not be as miserable inside.

  • ANG

    July 5, 2020 at 8:26 am

    lets hope for a new mayor come novemember

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