Pandemic beach etiquette
Enjoy time in the sun safely amid coronavirus
As safe opportunities for group outings remain somewhat scarce during the COVID-19 pandemic, many Floridians are flocking to a well-known Sunshine State recreation opportunity: beaches.
Florida’s sandy shores made headlines in April when they reopened, some for the first time in a month, with photos showing crowds packed onto Jacksonville Beach. The state caused a stir in the news again during Memorial Day weekend, when locals and vacationers flocked to beaches in droves.
Despite these unnerving images, beaches can be a very safe place to go while COVID-19 cases are still present in large numbers.
“Being at the beach is a wonderful activity because it’s outdoors. There’s a lot of ventilation and air movement,” said Dr. Candice Jones, an Orlando pediatrician, in a previous Sentinel interview. “So it’s a fairly, you could say, low-risk activity, but you just have to be able to social distance.”
Another public health expert, Dr. Jay Wolfson, said he had visited the beach and that masks weren’t necessary when social distancing, but that groups should avoid mingling with others.
Here are tips for staying safe when heading to the beach.
Beaches are open
At one point, some Central Florida beaches closed parking, banned alcohol or limited activities to walking and exercising before loosening up restrictions in early May.
There aren’t any Central Florida beaches currently closed entirely. Many encourage social distancing and congregating in groups of less than 10.
In Brevard County, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Beach, Cape Canaveral and more are open for business. Those visiting Cocoa Beach could be fined up to $500 for gathering in groups of more than 10 or getting closer than 10 feet to other groups.
In Volusia County, beaches with car access have posts for parking spread out at 25-foot intervals. Indian River County beaches are open for all “regularly permissible beach-related activities.”
Flagler County beaches are similarly open, but the county encourages visitors to follow CDC guidelines. In Pinellas County, beaches are welcoming visitors.
Respect people’s space
Just like Aretha Franklin preached in her 1967 tune, a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T goes a long way, especially during a pandemic.
During shopping trips and public outings, many have likely encountered that person who gets just a little too close for comfort, encroaching on the six-foot bubble.
The same could easily happen on a beach. Another group, perhaps unwittingly, could set up their tent and chairs just a little too close for comfort. Which begs the question — how do you address those people?
Judith Martin, much better known as Miss Manners, has weighed in on etiquette and asking folks for a little more space when social distancing is so vital. She said that being mean or hostile can backfire.
“You don’t insult them because, among other things, it doesn’t work,” Martin said in an interview with WBUR. “You say, ‘I think we should have more distance here.’ ”
Miss Manners added that it’s easier to correct behavior when you give a person an honest chance to fix their error first.
“You’re giving the person the opportunity to do what you want that person to do without being embarrassed,” she said. “If they get embarrassed, they’re going to get mean.”
It’s a lot of work to pick out that perfect spot on Florida’s sandy shores, especially with kids or coolers in tow. But if attempts to get others to move prove fruitless, another option is to move to another spot.
Beaches with smaller crowds
Another way to enjoy a safe beach trip is to pick out beaches that experience fewer crowds or visit during non-peak times.
Volusia County suggested ramps for beachgoers to access beaches that are generally less crowded.
Dr. Jones, the pediatrician, also advised using the powers of the internet to plan accordingly.
“Before we chose a hotel or a beach to go to, [my husband] was looking at the webcams of how many people were on the beach … we’re automatically trying to pick a beach location that is less populated,” she said
One webcam overlooks Flagler Beach, while others focus on Cocoa Beach Pier and the surrounding beaches. Another overlooks Clearwater Beach atop Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill.
At Daytona Beach, a webcam shows the beach as seen from Ocean Deck Restaurant and Beach Club. On St. Pete Beach, a webcam from Hideaway Sands Resort reveals crowd conditions.
Those are just a few options to utilize when planning a beach visit. No matter where you go, be sure to keep at least six feet away from others and always pack your sunscreen.