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By Beth Stibal |

South Florida Closes Beaches for the Fourth

Beaches in most of south Florida will close for the Fourth of July weekend, with Martin County the latest to announce a planned closure, as the state deals with a massive coronavirus spike that has hit southern parts especially hard.

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties have all announced beaches will be closed for the Fourth of July weekend, and will reopen some time next week. The Florida Keys, including Key West, joined them Monday, after reporting a record number of new coronavirus cases. Martin County private beaches will remain open, but both public and private beaches are closed for the holiday weekend on Palm Beach. The southern part of Florida has been the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic in the state, though cases are now quickly on the rise in central Florida and the Jacksonville area. Should beaches in the northern part of the state close too? Florida beaches open/closed for July 4 • Indian River County, which includes Golden Sands, Wabasso Beach, Tracking Station Beach, Round Island Beach, the east end of Beachcomber Lane and Indian River Shores. The city of Vero Beach decided to restrict access to its public beaches to residents of the city and Indian River County only, The restrictions will be in effect from from 7 a.m. Friday to 10 p.m. Sunday. Indian River County public beaches remain open with no restrictions, but County Administrator Jason Brown said officials will continue to monitor the situation. • Collier County, which includes Naples Beach and Marco Island. On Tuesday, Commissioners voted 3-2 to close beaches from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, including Friday ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. The city of Jacksonville announced Monday a mandatory mask mandate would go into effect after a rise in coronavirus cases there. The city plans to host the marquee events of the Republican National Convention, including President Donald Trump’s official acceptance of the party’s nomination, in August. Trump asked for the events to be moved from their original venue in Charlotte, North Carolina, because he wanted to escape social distancing and mask-wearing requirements.