NEWS

Coronavirus Florida: These beaches are open, closed for Labor Day holiday weekend

Editor's note: We will update this story with openings or closings.

Labor Day is coming, and for many Floridians spending that day (or weekend) off means going to the beach.

Coronavirus cases in August were not as high as the previous month for the Sunshine State, although Florida's death toll surpassed 10,000 this month. As of Sept. 2, the state has lost 11,374 Florida residents to the virus.

Most beaches here will be open for the holiday (see list below) — a vast difference from local governments' response to the July Fourth holiday, when many counties had opted to have reduced hours or temporary closures, specifically South Florida.

A look back:  These Florida beaches were open, closed for July 4th

Since the pandemic began in mid-March, Florida reached 100,000 cases on June 22 and 200,000 cases by July 5. Ten days later on July 15, the state reached another milestone with 300,000 COVID-19 cases. On July 24, the state registered more than 400,000 and reached the 500,000 milestone by Aug. 5. On Aug. 23, the state registered more than 600,000 cases. As of Sept. 2, the state's coronavirus case total was 631,040.

Per the CDC and Florida Department of Health, social distancing, face masks and avoiding large groups are recommended.

Here's a list of Florida beaches by county that are open (or closed) on Labor Day weekend. Check back for updates.

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Florida beaches open for Labor Day

PANHANDLE, NORTHWEST FLORIDA

• Escambia County, which includes Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key and Santa Rosa Island. Beaches here are open, however, a $1 toll will be collected from all vehicles travelling to Pensacola Beach and Santa Rosa Island via the Bob Sikes Toll Bridge. No cash or coins accepted for toll, only electronic passes. Visit https://myescambia.com/pensacola-beach

Northwest Florida news:  Connect with the Pensacola News Journal

• Santa Rosa County, which includes Navarre, Gulf Breeze and Santa Rosa Beach. Call 850-981-8888 or visit santarosa.fl.gov.

Look: Navarre Beach webcam

• Okaloosa County, which includes Fort Walton Beach and Destin beaches (Henderson Beach, James Lee Beach, Princess Beach, Matterhorn, White Point, and some Eglin Air Force off-base beaches): Beaches here are open from dawn to dusk, including public and private beaches; restrooms; beach accessways; and the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier. The Okaloosa area of the Gulf Islands National Seashore and Henderson Beach State Park’s beach access and parking are open, too. Eglin Beach Park hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily with $5 parking via credit card only. Visit destinfwb.com.

• Walton County on the Emerald Coast, which includes Rosemary Beach, Santa Rosa Beach and Miramar Beach: Beaches here are open, but social distancing and hanging out in groups of 10 or fewer are recommended. Visit visitsouthwalton.com/covid-19-travel-updates.

• Bay County, which includes beaches on the Gulf Coast in Northwest Florida, Mexico Beach and Panama City Beach: Beaches here are open 24 hours a day. Visit co.bay.fl.us.

• Gulf County, which includes Mexico Beach, about 25 miles southeast of Panama City: Beaches here are open. Beachgoers are asked to follow social distancing guidelines and have no more than 50 people in a group. Visit visitgulf.com/blog/post/faqs-covid-19.

• Franklin County, which includes St. George Island, Apalachicola, Carrabelle and Alligator Point, is about 80 miles southwest of Tallahassee: Beaches are open. Visit franklincountyflorida.com.

• Wakulla County, which includes Wakulla Beach and Mashes Sand Beach: Beaches are open, but the pier at Mashes Sands Island remains closed from Hurricane Michael damage. Hours are dawn to dusk. Visit mywakulla.com/departments/parks/mashes_sands.php.

• Taylor County in the Big Bend of Florida, which includes Keaton Beach. Visit taylorcountygov.com.

• Dixie County, which includes Horseshoe Beach, in the Big Bend of Florida. Visit visitdixie.org.

WEST COAST

• Levy County, which includes beaches in north-central Florida and the city of Cedar Key. Visit levycounty.org.

• Citrus County, which includes Fort Island Gulf Beach and Hernando Beach. Beach hours are from dawn to dusk daily. It's recommended that beachgoers follow social distancing guidelines and refrain from large groups. Restrooms at the beach also are open.

• Hernando County, which includes Pine Island Park: Beaches here are open, but social distancing and refraining from large groups are recommended. Visit hernandocounty.us.

• Pasco County, which includes New Port Richey, Port Richey and Hudson Beach. Visit pascocountyfl.net/4156/Closures.

• Pinellas County, which includes ‎Indian Rocks Beach, ‎St. Pete Beach, ‎Howard Park and ‎Madeira Beach: Beaches here are open, however, there is a $5-per-day parking fee for Fort De Soto, Sand Key, and Fred Howard parks. Visit pinellascounty.org/park/beaches.htm.

• Hillsborough County, which includes Apollo Beach and Clearwater. Visit hillsboroughcounty.org.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

• Manatee County, which includes Anna Maria Island and Bradenton Beach: Beaches on Anna Maria Island are open from dawn to 10 p.m. daily. Visit mymanatee.org.

• Sarasota County, which includes Siesta Beach, Venice Beach and Turtle Beach. Visit scgov.net.

• Charlotte County, which includes Englewood and Port Charlotte beaches in Punta Gorda. Visit charlottecountyfl.gov.

• Lee County, which includes Fort Myers Beach, Captiva and Sanibel Island: While the beach will be open, parking there will be costly. Alison Hagerup Beach will be open from dawn to dusk with parking fees of $25 for two hours or $40 for the day. In addition, there is a $6 toll to get to picturesque Sanibel Island and Captiva. Visit leegov.com/parks/beaches.

Facebook:  Coronavirus questions, answers, info in Fort Myers, Cape Coral

• Collier County, which includes Naples Beach and Marco Island. Visit colliercountyfl.gov/visitors/parks-beaches.

Facebook:  Coronavirus questions, answers and info in Naples

EAST COAST

• Nassau County, which includes Fernandina Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach and Atlantic Beach. Visit fbfl.us/103/Parks-Recreation.

• Duval County in Northeast Florida, which includes beaches in Jacksonville — Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach

• St. Johns County in the Northeastern Coast includes St. Augustine Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach and Crescent Beach. Visit sjcfl.us/Beaches/index.aspx.

• Flagler County, which includes Flagler Beach, the Palm Coast and Beverly Beach

• Volusia County, which inludes Daytona Beach, New Smyrna and Ormond Beach: Beaches here are open, and it is recommended that beachgoers practice social distancing and refrain from large groups. Visit volusia.org.

Volusia County news:  Connect with the Daytona Beach News-Journal

• Brevard County, which includes Melbourne Beach, Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Satellite Beach, Patrick Air Force Base beaches, Second Light, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Jetty Park at Port Canaveral and Canaveral National Seashore. Visit brevardfl.gov/ParksRecreation.

Facebook:  Coronavirus questions, answers and info in Brevard

• Indian River County, which includes Golden Sands, Wabasso Beach, Tracking Station Beach, Round Island Beach, the east end of Beachcomber Lane and Indian River Shores.

• St. Lucie County, which includes Blind Creek Beach, Blue Heron Beach, Coconut Drive Beach, Dollman Park Beach, Gulfstream Beach, Herman's Bay Beach, and Jetty Park Beach. Visit stlucieco.gov.

• Martin County, which includes Hobe Sound Beach near Palm Beach County and Jupiter Island. Visit martin.fl.us/Beaches.

Facebook:  Coronavirus questions, answers and info on the Treasure Coast

• Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood Beach, Dania Beach, Las Olas Beach, Pompano Beach, and Deerfield Beach. Visit fortlauderdale.gov/departments/parks-recreation.

• Miami-Dade, which includes Miami, Miami Beach and Key Biscayne. Visit miamidade.gov.

Florida beaches open AND closed for Labor Day

As of Sept. 2, only two counties announced temporary beach closures ahead of the holiday. Check back for updates.

• Palm Beach County, which includes Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Delray Beach: Most beaches here are open, and it is recommended that beachgoers follow social distancing guidelines and refrain from hanging out in large groups.

These Palm Beach County beaches are open ... but shoreside businesses have another Labor Day wish

However, Palm Beach will close its public beaches during the Labor Day weekend. The closing includes the town’s two guarded public beaches at Midtown Beach and Phipps Ocean Park and beach access points. The beaches will be closed Sept. 5-7 and reopen Sept. 8.

Closed:Palm Beach to close public beaches for Labor Day to avoid 'super-spreader' event

• Monroe County, which includes the Florida Keys. Parks and beaches are open from dawn to dusk in Monroe County, the city of Key West and the city of Marathon. However, social distancing and avoiding large crowds are recommended.

A notice online for the Village of Islamorada states parks, beaches and boat ramps are closed through Labor Day. The closure includes Anne’s Beach, Library Beach Park and the area known as the Fills (mile marker 77.5 to 79.8).

Founders Park is open to Islamorada residents and homeowners only. Proof of residency or homeownership will be required.

Facilities will reopen Sept. 8, 2020, at 50% capacity, according to the notice online. 

Visit monroecounty-fl.gov/1173/Beaches-Parks.

Contributing:  William Kelly, Palm Beach Daily News