A viral video showing a crowded Clearwater Beach sparked controversy and concern across the country. As bars and nightclubs shut down, and restaurants reduce capacity by 50%, some feel that our beaches need to be shut down.
On Wednesday, March 18, Clearwater officials voted to shut down the beach effective Monday, March 23 at 6am. The City Council noted that the shutdown does not pertain to restaurants or businesses along the beach.
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Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach and several other communities announced they were closing their beaches this week, according to a report from CBS News.
Cocoa Beach has closed beachside parks and beachside public parking areas effective on Friday, March 19 and remain closed until further notice in an attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19.
There are now currently more than 300 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the state of Florida, including 13 in Hillsborough County and 10 in Pinellas, according to an interactive map from the Florida Department of Health.
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Broward County currently has the most confirmed cases with 80 people currently diagnosed.
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