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USA
America's most popular tourist spots, such as the beaches in Miami and Fort Lauderdale (Florida), have begun closing following a series of drastic measures by the government.
On March 20th, a large crowd flocked to Clearwater Beach despite authorities' plan to close it starting March 23rd. According to the Tampa Bay newspaper, Clearwater business owners had previously petitioned Mayor George N. Cretekos not to close the beaches during spring break, as they are a major source of revenue for the area's tourism industry. However, their pleas were unsuccessful. Overall, most beaches in Florida were closed, although authorities also faced difficulties in closing some beaches, such as Jacksonville and Key West.
Earlier, Miami authorities closed South Beach – Miami's most popular beach – limiting the number of people allowed to gather there to no more than 250 and imposing a curfew at 11 p.m. on Saturday.
Clearwater Beach was deserted after the closure order was issued.
Subsequently, stricter regulations were implemented in Miami-Dade County (where at least 76 cases of Covid-19 had been identified), making gatherings of even more than 10 people on Miami Beach illegal.
In Fort Lauderdale, where at least 80 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on March 18, city officials also closed part of Fort Lauderdale Beach, limiting the number of people to no more than 250 and implementing a curfew from 10 p.m.
In Hawaii, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he had a hard time forcing the closure of these beaches, as low-tide beaches had previously been open to the public under the control of the state of Hawaii and DLNR (the enforcement agency of the Hawaii Department of Land and Resources).
Australia
Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach was also closed on March 21st, after images of thousands of people flocking to the beach in recent days despite Covid-19 prevention regulations shocked the public.
Beachgoers enjoyed unusually warm autumn weather with temperatures ranging from 30-34 degrees Celsius on March 20th and 21st at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
This is what Health Minister Greg Hunt stressed was "unacceptable" because it involved disregarding "social distancing" orders amid a surge in Covid-19 infections in Australia.
Previously, on March 20th, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced regulations on "social distancing." Accordingly, indoor venues such as restaurants and bars must maintain a density of no more than one person per four square meters of floor space. Overall, the limit of 100 people gathering indoors and 500 people outdoors remains in effect.
New South Wales Police Minister David Elliott, when announcing the closure of Bondi Beach, also warned: "This will become the new norm" if people continue to disregard regulations prohibiting gatherings of 500 or more people at non-essential outdoor events...
Sydney also became deserted.
