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Five things to know about Florida’s closed (for now) beaches

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/Florida’s Spring Break-filled beaches created a national firestorm. But even as the pandemic continues, some want them reopened.Some states and communities are starting to ease restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In Florida, that question has focused on the state’s most valuable asset: Its beaches.Some Florida beaches have reopened, while many have not. Tampa Bay’s beaches have not reopened, but officials here are pondering that question.Here are five things to know about why Florida’s beaches are closed, what’s happening to beaches elsewhere and what’s next.Reopening Florida’s beaches sends the message that the state is returning to some semblance of normalcy. The beaches are the state’s definitive cultural, physical asset and economic asset. Tourism is the state’s No. 1 industry, after all.Pinellas County closed its beaches on March 20, joining South Florida’s beach communities. Gov. Ron DeSantis’, closing all but essential businesses and services. But local officials were already closing their beaches.The push to reopen started had its first breakthrough two weekends ago, when Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry reopened Duval County’s beaches on April 17. in support of reopening outdoor spaces so long as distancing guidelines were still followed.The move drew crowds and controversy, .But , despite health experts cautioning that far more testing is needed before it becomes safe enough to reopen the state.Tampa Bay’s beaches are still closed. But that could change soon. Pinellas County Administrator Barry Burton has asked county commissioners to , and Sheriff Bob Gualtieri supports the idea.The Pinellas County Commission will consider the issue when it meets Tuesday.Florida early in the pandemic as spring breakers packed the beaches: Videos of blasé teenagers and twenty-somethings, unworried about the virus, spread on social media. Health experts feared what would happen as those tourists returned home, possibly carrying the contagious virus with them across the country and world.Officials in South Florida . Beaches in the Tampa Bay area weren’t shut down as quickly: Days after Miami Beach’s mayor declared spring break “over,” Burton and Gualtieri were .Initially, local officials responded to criticism by doubling down, saying that . But that changed quickly.Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale closed their beaches. Then on March 18, .The chain reaction had begun: That same day, Clearwater officials, facing backlash after photos and video of packed beaches circulated, — but not until after the following weekend. Clearwater Beach would close for two weeks starting at 6:01 a.m. on March 20.Subscribe to our free DayStarter newsletterWe’ll deliver the latest news and information you need to know every weekday morning.Loading...Want more of our free, weekly newsletters&nbsp;in&nbsp;your&nbsp;inbox? Let’s&nbsp;get&nbsp;started.Clearwater Beach didn’t even stay open that long. Soon the Pinellas County Commission through April 6, a deadline that has since been extended.Not everyone obeyed the beach closures, even after DeSantis’ statewide shutdown order.In Pasco County, signs to sunbathe and wade into the water. In Pinellas, , leaving little distance and lots of litter. Gualtieri called it a “disaster.”Later in April, the Pinellas sheriff , and though some officials acknowledged that the beaches weren’t completely empty. The combination of closures and stay-at-home orders seemed to be effective.Just a few days after that, on April 17, for some beaches to reopen.The governor convened his , to come up with recommendations for reopening the state after DeSantis’ shutdown order expires on Thursday. the governor said during the task force’s second meeting last week, saying Florida’s hospitals did not see the anticipated crush of COVID-19 patients.Then Monday in Tampa, . Health experts say Florida must continue to ramp up testing before it can make these kinds of decisions.Florida isn’t the only state facing complicated decisions about when and how to open beaches during the pandemic.In early April, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s stay-at-home order , a move that local officials blasted.Crowds this past weekend packed reopening beaches in Mississippi and Texas, and Fourth of July-sized crowds , where some beaches had just reopened.California Gov. Gavin Newsom decried the lack of social distancing being practiced at his state’s beaches.“This virus doesn’t take the weekends off,” he said. "This virus doesn’t go home because it’s a beautiful, sunny day along our coast.”• • •HAVE YOU LOST SOMEONE YOU LOVE TO COVID-19?: UNEMPLOYMENT Q&amp;A: CONTRIBUTE TO THE SCRAPBOOK: BRIGHT SPOTS IN DARK TIMES: LISTEN TO THE CORONAVIRUS PODCAST: HAVE A TIP?: GET THE DAYSTARTER MORNING UPDATE: WATCH VIDEO: We’re working hard to bring you the latest news on the coronavirus in Florida. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. If you haven’t already subscribed,This site no longer supports your current browser. Please use a modern and up-to-date browser version for the best experience. — — —

/Florida’s Spring Break-filled beaches created a national firestorm. But even as the pandemic continues, some want them reopened.Some states and communities are starting to ease restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In Florida, that question has focused on the state’s most valuable asset: Its beaches.Some Florida beaches have reopened, while many have not. Tampa Bay’s beaches have not reopened, but officials here are pondering that question.Here are five things to know about why Florida’s beaches are closed, what’s happening to beaches elsewhere and what’s...

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Five things to know about Florida’s closed (for now) beaches

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