NAPLES, Fla. – Naples in Southwest Florida will be closing its beaches Sunday at 12:01 a.m. after a weekend of crowded beaches was too much for the city amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus. Naples’ beaches reopened Monday, May 4.
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A notice from the City of Naples on Saturday announced the closing and said it was in alignment with CDC guidance and Governor DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-112.
Some beachgoers said it was so crowded there was nowhere to sit and if they had wanted to, they would not be able to abide by social distancing because of so many people.
City of Naples is closing City beaches at midnight. Emergency meeting will be held at 1pm on Monday, May 11, 2020. pic.twitter.com/y0nRWCnnxz
— Naples Police Dept. (@NaplesPolice) May 9, 2020
Naples Councilman Gary Price told news station WINK that he visited the beaches during the day to see what was happening after someone texted him about the large crowds. He said when he arrived he was disappointed and concerned.
The City Council called an emergency meeting at 1 p.m. Monday to address the emergency beach closure order.
Price told the television station that he took photos and many of the cars had dealership plates from Broward and Dade counties.
Naples is about a 98 minute drive (109 miles) from Fort Lauderdale and about a 115 minute drive (126 miles) from Miami.