Beaches in Bay County are reopening this week, as plans to lift restrictions on hundreds of miles of sandy shoreline across the state gradually move forward.
Panama City Beach is the latest coastal community in the panhandle to reopen access to the sand.
On Thursday, City Council members voted unanimously to allow people on the beach during the hours of 6 - 9 a.m. and 5 - 8 p.m. The measure requires beachgoers to limit group sizes to 10 people or fewer and keep a six-foot distance from others. Those who violate social distancing guidelines could face criminal and civil penalties.
Earlier this week, Bay County announced plans to partially reopen its beaches, which run alongside sections of city-owned shoreline. “It behooves us probably to be consistent with them, otherwise we’ll create public confusion,” City Manager Tony O’Rourke told council members.
Beaches in Gulf and Wakulla Counties relaxed beach closures this week, as other local governments in the panhandle, including Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties, plan to open access to the sand on May 1. Escambia, Walton and Franklin Counties will vote next week on reopening beaches.
“Cities and counties across the state are doing this,” said Panama City Beach City Council Member Paul Casto. Jacksonville Beach, Daytona Beach and Cocoa Beach have been allowing people on the sand, with restrictions on group sizes, hours and certain activities.
With Bay County’s coronavirus cases rising over the weekend, City Council members acknowledged that they might have to close the beaches again if the numbers continue to rise.
As of Thursday evening, the county had 60 confirmed coronavirus cases and two deaths. With limited testing and a days-long lag before getting results, the true number of cases could exceed reported totals.
This is only a “trial run,” Casto said. “With the understanding, if we have some flare ups or there are some other issues that we don’t see coming, that we can shut this thing down,” he said. “I don’t anticipate a big flood of people coming down here because we don’t have short-term rentals at this time.”
The Bay County Tourism Development Council has also suspended its marketing campaign, said City Council Member Phil Chester, who also serves on the tourism board. “They’re not advertising and opening up the floodgates for visitors to come down.”
Though the beaches will soon reopen on a limited schedule, the council extended a ban on large events and parades through May 15. The city’s community centers will also remain closed for the next few weeks. City outdoor facilities, including the pool, splash park, pier and parks and trails remain open.
Mayor Mark Sheldon, who was sworn into office at Thursday’s meeting, will have the authority to close the beaches at any time after consulting with the city manager, police chief and fire chief. Sheldon has expressed the need for caution when opening access to the sand.
“We should open it for limited access and then monitor it as tight as we can monitor something, and watch it every day. And it’s something that I will be meeting with the city manager on each day. We’ve had that conversation already,” he said. “I want to make sure that we are watching it, so the curve doesn’t grow on us.”
Unless city leaders decide to close the beach in the next few weeks, the City Council will revisit the issue at its next meeting on May 14.
“Getting our residents back on the white sandy beach is crucial,” Sheldon said. “I think it’s important for people to run, and swim, and surf and paddle board and do all the things that they want to do to give them some sort of release.”
