Thousand flock to Florida Beaches

[HeatherC]

Apparently, thousands of people are flocking to the Florida beaches that have reopened. Anyone else think in about two to three weeks the cases will be climbing there again?

 

[JimMIA]

Apparently, thousands of people are flocking to the Florida beaches that have reopened. Anyone else think in about two to three weeks the cases will be climbing there again?

Hopefully not. The Governor gave some counties the authority to reopen some beaches and parks for very limited hours (6-11 AM, 5-8PM) with social distancing in effect, and I think it's on a trial basis. Sunbathing, lounge chairs, etc are prohibited -- you're basically limited to walking with good separation.

I think there have been 3 beach openings in a state with 1,300+ miles of coastline, so I wouldn't get carried away with media hype.

 

[Eeyore daily]

No doubt about it.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Hopefully not. The Governor gave some counties the authority to reopen beaches and parks for very limited hours with social distancing in effect, and I think it's on a trial basis.

I saw pictures taken yesterday on one of the Jacksonville beaches - there was no sign of effective social distancing. I am worried that this may set back the entire state. We have many friends and relatives in FL - most of them elderly.

 

[sam_gordon]

Apparently, thousands of people are flocking to the Florida beaches that have reopened. Anyone else think in about two to three weeks the cases will be climbing there again?

Not great writing. How many beaches does Florida have? Thousands spread out among the beaches should not be a problem. Thousands at a single beach would be a problem. So which is it?

 

[dclpluto]

You better believe wdw is watching

 

[AnnaS]

I hope not, but since no vaccine, nothing new has really changed from a few weeks ago, I can't see why this would not start the spread again.

If someone is enforcing the social distancing........it might work but I don't see this happening either.

I want to get back to my "new normal" as much as the next person. If I lived i Florida, or even here in my state, they said you can go to the beach, I would not be going. I need to feel comfortable and know there have been more improvements, less people dying, getting infected, etc. etc. But that is just me.....someone else wants to go/take a chance. Go for it.

 

[Eeyore daily]

Not great writing. How many beaches does Florida have? Thousands spread out among the beaches should not be a problem. Thousands at a single beach would be a problem. So which is it?

It seems to be at Jacksonville beaches and no one is following social distancing guidelines

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Numbers are going to go up once you open things up. The thing to watch for is available hospital beds and if hospitals are overwhelmed.

The flattening the curve was to not overwhelm hospitals. If hospitals aren’t overwhelmed then start opening things up.

people are going to catch this virus. We can’t stop that.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Apparently, thousands of people are flocking to the Florida beaches that have reopened. Anyone else think in about two to three weeks the cases will be climbing there again?

Did people want to visit the beach to enjoy the beach or was it some form of protest? I fear that the same will happen in Wales.

I hope that this isn’t viewed as a political question.... curiosity killed the cat etc.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Did people want to visit the beach to enjoy the beach or was it some form of protest? I fear that the same will happen in Wales.

They opened the beaches in Jacksonville.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

They opened the beaches in Jacksonville.

I understood that, but I just wondered why so many people flocked to the beach....a day at the seaside or a protest against lockdown?

 

[JimMIA]

I understood that, but I just wondered why so many people flocked to the beach....a day at the seaside or a protest against lockdown?

We're Floridians. Beach is what we do.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

We're Floridians. Beach is what we do.

I am Welsh, this is what I do too. The difference is that I wear a woolly hat, scarf, coat, gloves and wellies 365, no maybe 355 days a year.

 

[Ben E N]

I have felt that Florida has done a lot wrong in response to this, but opening the beaches to exercise is actually a good idea. Most people who live right on the beach have been stuck in condos and are desperate to get out. There have been signs that this virus does not do too well outside in sunlight. As I read it, people are allowed to keep moving on the beaches, but sunbathing is prohibited.
The more governments clamp down, the more some people will push back. By allowing these openings, it makes it easier for people to accept that more dangerous places like restaurants need to stay closed for a longer time.

 

[JimMIA]

They opened the beaches in Jacksonville.

They opened three beaches -- a total of about 10 miles, in a state with 1,350 miles of coastline -- for 8 hours per day.

 

[JimMIA]

I am Welsh, this is what I do too. The difference is that I wear a woolly hat, scarf, coat, gloves and wellies 365, no maybe 355 days a year.

"...wellies?"

 

[Aimeedyan]

The media hype over this is a tad ridiculous as some beaches have been open for exercise the entire time and this week was JUST part of Jacksonville under very limited hours. I think part of the issue is that the hours were so reduced that when people come, they are there at the same time. If they had just opened them for the entire day, it probably would have been just fine as people came, walked around, left.

I live near the beach in FL (gulf coast) and have NEVER visited the beach near my house and been close to anyone else. Maybe in the touristy areas like Clearwater do people stack on top of each other but not in the beaches the residents visit. It is so easy to social distance!

(the beaches here have allowed for walking on them without any issue this entire time - you just cannot sit down or linger)

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

"...wellies?"

Wellington boots.

 

[Hikergirl]

Our state and county parks and (most) hiking trails have been opened throughout this whole thing.
As long as people follow the rules of social distancing this shouldn't be a problem. In places where that isn't possible then they can be closed down again, or more restrictions put in place.
Some trails in the state have closed here or instituted new open hours due to crowds. Others remain open without issue. It is entirely possible for open air spaces to start opening up all over, especially in areas where hospitals are past the peak of being overwhelmed.
My goodness some people are acting like this is the beginning of the apocalypse.