Some Florida locals returned to the beaches Friday after Gov. Ron DeSantis okayed to reopen parts of the coast despite the continuing coronavirus break out.
Jacksonville Beach Mayor Charlie Latham, Neptune Beach Mayor Elaine Brown and Atlantic Beach Mayor Ellen Glasser said their beaches would resume exclusively for exercise, not tanning or congregating in large groups.
” Simply to be clear, this is an opportunity for individuals to come out to the beach to work out a number of times a day. It’s not a sunbathing chance,” Latham said in a statement.
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Florida officials were slammed early into the COVID-19 break out after images emerged of spring breakers drinking and partying on the state’s beaches. One 22- year-old guy who at first boasted about breaking social distancing rules later on apologized and said he wasn’t “aware of the seriousness of my actions.”
DeSantis also came under attack for declining to close beaches last month regardless of a growing outbreak. Less than a week later on, Florida closed state parks after coronavirus cases increased.
The state has more than 24,000 validated cases and 686 deaths, according to NBC News counts.
On Friday, DeSantis informed regional leaders they were totally free to reopen beaches as long as social distancing standards were enforced.
The beaches will open every day from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and then again from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. They will be closed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Very first responders and lifeguards will patrol beaches and access indicate implement guidelines. Coolers, chairs, blankets, towels and grills are not allowed. Surfing and swimming are allowed however not sunbathing.
” We can’t worry enough that for how long the beaches will stay open will be 100 percent determined by the beachgoers,” Latham said. “As long as everybody complies by the times, standards, the social distancing, we will be all right. We want you to be able to use the beach as a possession and enjoy yourself, but we have to maintain the security element.”
Alicia Victoria Lozano
Alicia Victoria Lozano is a Los Angeles-based digital reporter for NBC News.
