Jacksonville area beaches brace for spring break crowds

DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — The pandemic doesn’t seem to be slowing down visitors heading to Florida to vacation and get out of the cold.

Action News Jax Alicia Tarancon visited Jacksonville Beach on Thursday to see how people are getting ready for spring break while staying safe.

Next week Duval County Public Schools are officially on spring break.

Bryan Scott and his wife Cassandra are from New York and decided to go to Florida to visit family.

“And I had never been to Jacksonville and we just hugged the coast on the eastside the whole time cause we want to surf and get out of the cold and take our masks off,” Scott said.

Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue is expecting more visitors heading to the beach in the coming weeks for spring break.

Captain Rob Emahiser told Action News Jax that just like every year, he’s prepping for large crowds headed to the beach.

He said he plans to add more lifeguards if it’s warm and sunny outside and scale back his staff if the weather is bad.

Captain Emahiser is asking large groups to practice social distancing and follow CDC guidelines.

“Keep in mind that there’s still a pandemic. That you should do all the things that have been recommended this whole time to slow the spread,” Captain Emahiser said.

Several states like Mississippi and Texas have lifted their mask mandate and in Florida there’s also no statewide mandate. It depends on which county or city you visit.

The City of Jacksonville said the the mask mandate in Duval County still stands. It will continue to encourage people to wear mask, practice social distancing and wash their hands frequently.

Still, visitors like Cassandra Scott say with less restrictions in Florida it seemed like the perfect place to go.

“I like the sun, I miss it so much especially being stuck in your house for the past year,” she said.

Action News Jax’s Alicia Tarancon contacted all three mayors for Jacksonville Beach, Neptune and Atlantic Beach to see if they are making any special recommendations for spring break.

Mayor Christine Hoffman of Jacksonville Beach says, “The mask mandate is done at the county level and it was extended by Mayor Curry at the end of February for another month.”

Hoffman added she has “encouraged our hospitality business owners to continue to ensure they are operating as safely as possible. But as far as any regulations, there is nothing new at this point.”

Neptune Beach Mayor Elaine Brown said she is speaking with Mayor Christine Hoffman and Atlantic Beach Mayor Ellen Glasser and would update Tarancon Thursday afternoon.

Cox Media Group