More South Florida cities closed down their beaches Monday as Hollywood, Dania Beach and Hallandale Beach told beachgoers to keep away. Hollywood also closed its popular Broadwalk to help contain the new coronavirus.
The news came one day after Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach announced they were shutting down their beaches, too. Hollywood officials were worried a swarm of spring breakers pushed out of those two cities might overwhelm Hollywood beach, Mayor Josh Levy said.
Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale had the spring break crowds, he said. There was a lot of concern that those visitors would arrive on Hollywood beach en masse. And we want to put safety first.
Bars, restaurants and shops along the Broadwalk are not being ordered to close. People can still access those businesses from the Broadwalk but are being discouraged from gathering in large crowds on the promenade, said city spokeswoman Raelin Storey.
Hollywood posted this notice on its official Facebook page Monday: The city of Hollywood is announcing additional proactive measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Effectively immediately and until further notice, under the city’s Declaration of Emergency, Hollywood beach and the Hollywood beach Broadwalk are closed to the public.”
Hollywood’s Sun Shuttle also has been suspended until further notice.
These measures are being put in place for the protection of the community, visitors, and employees to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the health care system is not overwhelmed, city officials said.
2020, South Florida Sun Sentinel