For most Floridians, going to the beach on July Fourth is about as American as apple pie.
However, record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 cases in the Sunshine State has put the brakes on that holiday tradition — in some Florida counties. Officials in South Florida announced beach closures in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
As of Monday, the state registered more than 146,000 cases and 3,447 deaths since the pandemic began.
Late last week, Florida announced record-number case jumps, with a surge of almost 43,000 people testing positive from June 24-29.
Data from the Florida Department of Health show the highest single-day total was on Saturday with more than 9,500 cases. On Monday, Florida reported 5,266 new cases.
Since the pandemic began, the total number of cases recorded in the state is 146,341, with 143,805 residents and 2,536 non-residents affected. Monday's percentage of people testing positive rose to 7.65%, a percentage that hasn't been this high since May 7, when it was 7.87% and the state had 38,828 cases.
The state's total number of cases has more than doubled from 61,488, when Gov. Ron DeSantis' issued Phase 2 of his reopening plan on June 5.
Back in May: DeSantis announced Phase 1 plan to reopen Florida. What it means
In early June: DeSantis announced his Phase 2 plan to reopen Florida. What it means
Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties still are in Phase 1 of DeSantis' reopening plan.
The following lists beaches by county and whether they will be opened or closed for July Fourth.
Florida beaches open AND closed for July 4
• Collier County, which includes Naples Beach and Marco Island. On Tuesday, Commissioners voted 3-2 to close beaches from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, including Friday ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
More to the story: Collier County to restrict weekend beach hours starting July Fourth weekend
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Florida beaches closed for July 4
Take a look:See how the beaches look in your area via these webcams
• Miami-Dade, which includes Miami, Miami Beach and Key Biscayne, will close its beaches from July 3-7.
• Broward County, which includes Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood Beach, Dania Beach, Las Olas Beach, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, will be closed July 3-5. Restaurants and retail shops on the beaches, however, will still be open for business.
• Palm Beach County, which includes Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Delray Beach, announced beaches would be closed for July Fourth.
• Monroe County, which includes the Florida Keys, announced Monday beaches will be closed for the Independence Day holiday, beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday through dawn July 7.
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Florida beaches open for July 4
As of Monday, these beaches remain open on the holiday weekend. Check back for updates.
Take a look:See how the beaches look in your area via these webcams
Panhandle, Northwest Florida
• Escambia County, which includes Pensacola Beach, Perdido Key and Santa Rosa Island: In addition to Pensacola beaches remaining open, the Blue Angels will prepare for its 2020 Pensacola Beach Air Show the weekend after July Fourth. Running July 8-11, thousands from across the country are expected to attend. The Santa Rosa Island Authority announced last week the U.S. Navy Blue Angels will fly for 45 minutes each day — weather permitting — at 10 a.m. daily between Park East on Pensacola Beach and Orange Beach, Alabama. Visit blueangels.navy.mil.
Blue Angels beach show: It'll be different this year, with a flyover and condensed airshow
Northwest Florida news: Connect with the Pensacola News Journal
• Santa Rosa County, which includes Navarre, Gulf Breeze and Santa Rosa Beach: Not only will the beaches be open, rain or shine, the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Office will host an Independence Day fireworks show at 9 p.m. July 4 at the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier. Try to arrive early to find parking, practice social distancing and leave pets at home. Call 850-981-8900 or visit santarosa.fl.gov.
• 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; and the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier. Eglin Beach Park opens at 10 a.m., 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
•Bay County, which includes beaches on the Gulf Coast in Northwest Florida, Mexico Beach and Panama City Beach
•Gulf County
• Franklin County, which includes St. George Island, Apalachicola, Carrabelle and Alligator Point
• Wakulla County, which includes Wakulla Beach
• Taylor County in the Big Bend of Florida, which includes Keaton Beach
•Dixie County, which includes Horseshoe Beach, in the Big Bend of Florida
West Coast
• Levy County, which includes beaches in north-central Florida and the city of Cedar Key
• Citrus County, which includes Fort Island Gulf Beach
• Hernando County, which includes Pine Island Park
• Pasco County, which includes New Port Richey, Port Richey and Hudson Beach
• Pinellas County, which includes Indian Rocks Beach, St. Pete Beach, Howard Park and Madeira Beach
• Hillsborough County, which includes Apollo Beach, St. Pete and Cleatwater
Southwest Florida
• Manatee County, which includes Anna Maria Island and Bradenton Beach
• Sarasota County, which includes Siesta Beach, Venice Beach, and Turtle Beach
•Charlotte County, which includes Englewood and Port Charlotte beaches in Punta Gorda
• Lee County, which includes Fort Myers Beach, Captiva and Sanibel Island: Captiva Erosion Prevention District said in a press release it would have an attendant at the Alison Hagerup Beach parking lot in Captiva Friday through Sunday. While the beach will be open, parking will cost you. 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 Sanibel Island and Captiva.
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East Coast
• Nassau County, which includes Fernandina Beach, Long Beach, Lido Beach and Atlantic Beach
• 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
• Flagler County, which includes Flagler Beach, the Palm Coast and Beverly Beach
• Volusia County, which inludes Daytona Beach, New Smyrna and Ormond Beach
• 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
• 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. Vero Beach city beaches will be restricted to city and Indian River county residents. The restrictions will be in effect from from 7 a.m. Friday to 10 p.m. Sunday.
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• 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
• Martin County, which includes Hobe Sound Beach near Palm Beach County and Jupiter Island
Contributing: Patrick Riley, Naples Daily News; Jake Newby, Pensacola News Journal; Dan DeLuca of the News-Press
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