The mayor made clear what activities are considered essential in a video statement released Thursday. No, you don't have to be providing medical care, delivering food or performing other community services. That's because almost all recreational activities are still considered "essential" in Florida.
That means "walking, biking, hiking, fishing, running, swimming, taking care of pets and surfing," are all essential, says Curry, "defined in Governor Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order." The order reopens all of Duval County beaches at 5 p.m. on Friday. Blankets and coolers are not allowed at the beach, however.
Curry cited the recent "flattening of the curve" in Florida as the reason to reopen the city's most crowded outdoor areas, meaning that even if residents pass the disease on to one another, there will likely be enough hospital beds and ventilators for patients who contract COVID-19.
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It's worth pointing out that the state's coronavirus cases have not leveled off. In the past 24 hours in Florida, cases are up 5 percent and deaths are up 8 percent. Florida reported 24,119 total positive cases on Friday, and the number of deaths increased to 699, up 53 from Thursday morning's numbers. Those figures, of course, don't include undercounted cases, those walking around without symptoms, and those who have been unable to get tested.
"This decision was made in collaboration with law enforcement, first responders, and the beaches' mayors," said Curry, listing the names of City of Jacksonville Beach Charlie Latham, Atlantic Beach Mayor Ellen Glasser, and Neptune Beach Mayor Elaine Brown.Curry, an accountant and financial advisor who was the chair of the Republican Party of Florida between 2011 and 2014, said, "This can be the beginning of the pathway back to normal life."
"Please respect and follow these limitations," he said. "Stay within the guidelines for your safety as well as for the safety of your neighbors."
With an estimated population exceeding 900,000, Jacksonville is by far the largest city in Florida, and the entire southeastern United States (Miami, by comparison, has an estimated 470,000 residents within city limits). The county itself has around 958,000 people, and with 794 cases of COVID-19 and 14 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University, Duval is considered a hotspot in Florida.
The city says limits on activities will be enforced by local police, and that beaches will open from 6 to 11 a.m. each morning, and again from 5 to 8 p.m. each evening. They will remain closed during all other time periods."Please be advised that you are swimming and surfing at your own risk," says the city's announcement.
Parks and golf courses that are owned and operated by the city of Jacksonville will also resume normal hours starting at 5 p.m., but only for gatherings of fewer than 50 people, and all park and beach restroom facilities will remain closed, severely limiting the number places for people to wash their hands.
This story originally appeared at our sister publication Orlando Weekly.
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This article appears in Apr 16-22, 2020.