Spring breakers will have to disperse at Clearwater Beach next week, after the City Council voted to close public access to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The closure will start 6 a.m. on Monday, March 23 and last for two whole weeks. The ban also does not apply to businesses, so you can still get a grouper sandwich.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the motion passed with a 4-1 vote, with only council member David Allbritton in opposition, and was part of a citywide state of emergency that also shut down most public meetings and libraries.
Earlier this week, Pinellas County decided to make the controversial decision to keep public beaches open, despite outcry from the public and health officials.
And on Wednesday afternoon, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor announced that four beaches—Ben T. Davis, Cypress Point, Davis Islands and Picnic Island—would be closed beginning at sunset until further notice.
"Cypress Point Park and Picnic Island Park will be closed," a release from the City of Tampa said, "however, Picnic Island Park boat ramp will remain open."
This is a developing story.
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This article appears in Mar 12-19, 2020.