VCC Closes Beaches, Enacts Burn Ban

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DeLand, FL - Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald says all beaches will close effective midnight tonight.  At the same time, a Burn Ban goes into effect in the County.

Recktenwald said closing the beaches is a necessity and a way to keep people from gathering in groups. He said closing the beaches is a message to all, visitors and citizens alike. Everything is closed at the beach including parks, walkovers and all parking lots. There will be no lifeguards on duty and the double red flag will be flying, which means the water is closed to the public. Recktenwald said there are 54 members of Beach Patrol monitoring beaches. First time infractions will get a warning. After that is a second-degree misdemeanor to be onthe beach.

The chief medical officers from the two major hospitals in the area gave updates on what they are seeing.  Dr. Margaret Crossman of Halifax Health said that social distance is the most important step in slowing the spread of COVID-19. She said flattening the curve is important for medical professionals. Dr. Joe Smith of  AdventHealth in DeLand  said health care partners in the community are bringing to bear a national scale response to the virus. He said the hospitals are ready for this. "We are prepared and are creating addtional capacity on top of the 100s of ICU beds that we already have available. Elective procedures have been ramped down to make room for acutely ill patients."

Sheriff Mike Chitwood also spoke during the press conference, saying it's important that we all follow the state executive order, the CDC and Department of Health guidelines and  what the County is putting out.  He also addressed reckless behavior and what will happen if it continues. "Last weekend there was a pop-up block party with a thousand people taking over the street. You're putting the lives of your friends and neighbors in danger and you're putting the lives of first responders in danger." He continued, "If I see that same sort of behavior this weekend, rest assured, we're going to be acting on the Governor's order and enforcing it. We don't want to make arrests but will if necessary."

closed beaches, coronavirus