SOUTH PADRE ISLAND This citys beach accesses will remain open for beachgoers with implemented safety and health measures.

During a meeting held Wednesday, City of South Padre Island council voted to amend and extend the citys beach operations emergency order to Aug. 5 at 11:59 p.m.

It is the responsibility of every American to aid in the prevention of the spread of the virus, the order states. Our hope is that by imposing these measures quickly and firmly, we will help bring this national emergency to an end quickly and help revitalize the economy we all enjoy as soon as possible.

The order addresses rules for beach vendors and beachgoers.

All non-single pole shade structures will be prohibited, as well as all types of canopies and pop-up tents.

Single-pole shade structures larger than 8 feet in diameter will be prohibited. All single-pole shade structures will be separated by a minimum of 15 feet from the outside edge or tip of the structure.

Only two chairs per single pole shade structure will be permitted. Other setups are prohibited within the 15 feet between equipment.

For beach vendors, all secondary beach chairs and umbrellas must be stored at the dune line and setup on demand only. Chairs and umbrellas must be rented and occupied at the time of setup for the secondary rows.

According to the order, the mayor and the emergency management coordinator can close the beach at any time if social distancing is not followed.

A violation of the order is a Class C Misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.

The Island is a popular place to visit and the public should be mindful that the COVID-19 virus is still impacting the Rio Grande Valley, a post from the City of South Padre Island Facebook page states. While on the beach, everyone should follow protocols to prevent further spread of this virus.

To view the entire order, visithttps://tinyurl.com/ydhzofdc.

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City beach accesses to remain open; Island amends, extends beach operations order - Brownsville Herald

But the national estimate for R, which now sits between 0.7 and 0.9, is an average. The figure hides hotspots including Leicester, Bradford, Blackburn and Herefordshire where case numbers have jumped again.

Dr Kucharski suggests the concept of "transmission budgets", where the value of R is broken down into its constituent parts, is a useful one for policymakers looking forward.

"Countries essentially have a 'transmission budget' when it comes to Covid-19," he Tweeted as the Prime Minister pondered a further relaxation of lockdown this week.

"Global patterns suggest there are only so many things that can go back to normal before flare-ups start happening".

One problem in the UK is that we don't know with any precision how different measures, such as school or office reopenings, contribute to the overall budget.

However, there is some evidence from overseas. A study conducted in Hong Kong when schools were closed and track and trace was operating was able to isolate and measure the effectof other interventions as they were introduced and then relaxed.

"One of the most consequential physical distancing measures appears to be the work at home policy for civil servants, which was mirrored by many other institutions and private employers", say the authors.

"We estimated that the effectiveness of implementation of civil servants working from home was 67 per cent and the effectiveness of implementation of additional physical distancing measures including closure of high-risk places/facilities [such as bars and restaurants] was 58 per cent."

A separate study looked at nine interventions in 41 countries between January and April 2020 and found eight of them to be effective.

Closing schools reduced R by an average of 50 per cent. Other things that worked included: closing non-essential businesses (34 per cent); closing high-risk businesses (26 per cent); limiting gatherings to 10people or less (28 per cent); and issuing stay-at-home orders (14 per cent).

The "surprisingly large role for schools" the study found will worry policymakers and underlines how tight the UK's transmission budget is. It may partly explain why the Prime Minister did not order a full return to office work this week.

"Working out these budgets is incredibly difficult," says Prof Hunter, who like many other experts urges caution in the absence of firm evidence. "Wedon'tknow with certainty what the real numbers are for each activity in the UK."

Preventing a resurgence in Covid cases is one thing, stopping a separate winter wave another perhaps. Five out of 10of the last big respiratory outbreaks have featured significant subsequent waves, four of them after a summer trough.

Already there is evidence that winter in the southern hemisphere is having an effect, the cold weather forcing people inside and the Three Cs starting to overlap. The strong second peak of cases in Victoria, Australia provides the strongest hint of possible trouble to come in the UK once winter sets in.

"As soon as the bad weather comes and we start living indoors again, thats likely to be a big boost to the R value," says Prof Hunter.

"I suspect that unless by then we have an effective test, track and trace system in place which to be honest isn't looking promising at the moment then we, almost certainly, will go into a second wave."

The "reasonable worst case scenario"for the UK winter was laid out in a Government commissioned report by the Academy of Medical Sciences last week.

The modelling suggested a further 120,000 hospital patients would die in a peak occurring early in the new year if R rose to 1.7 in the UK over winter.

A less severe second wave might lead to 1,300 or 75,000 deaths between September 2020 and June 2021 if the R value rises to 1.1 or 1.5 respectively, it said.

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Analysis: Heres why BLM protests, crowded beaches and eased lockdown have not caused a second wave - Telegraph.co.uk

PARIS (Reuters) - Parisians heading to the opening of Paris Plages, the yearly transformation of sections of the Seine river into man-made beaches, were met with a new attraction on Saturday: COVID-19 test centres.

A series of indicators across the country, including in the French capital, have suggested the virus could once again be gaining momentum. Authorities are pushing an aggressive testing policy to avoid a return to the peaks seen from March to May.

At Paris-Plages people have got the time and they really want to know whether they have been sick ... and there are those who need a certificate to travel on some airlines to go on holiday, Muriel Prudhomme, a doctor and deputy at the townhalls health department, told Reuters as a steady stream of people of all ages came to be tested.

The artificial beaches on the banks of the Seine in central Paris and the Bassin de la Villette, a man-made lake in the northeast of the city, have been a raging success since they were launched by Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe in 2002.

As well as sand and views of central Paris architecture, Paris Plage offers sporting opportunities such as fencing, giant table-football, and open-air gyms looking out over the Seine, although this year the tighter health restrictions have limited some of the activities.

Along the banks of the river and the Bassin de la Villette, medical teams are now in place at two locations until the end of August offering serological and standard PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests with a capacity to carry out 150 to 200 a day.

Im taking all necessary precautions, but there are so many people that dont seem to care, said pensioner Nicole Gressier. Im going to see my granddaughter who I havent seen for nine months, so when I was strolling here I saw it was possible to be tested, so why not?

The disease has killed more than 30,000 people in France. While it has been under control with fatalities and the number of people in intensive care falling, daily cases have increased ahead of the summer holiday season as people gather in larger groups and travellers come to and from France without specific quarantine measures.

Kais Arbi, 25, who lives in a northwestern Parisian suburb, took the test knowing that he was travelling to see his family in Tunisia in the coming weeks.

I did the PCR test so I know my current state of health, said Arbi, who tested negative. I dont want to spread it to another country.

Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Hugh Lawson

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Going to the beach in Paris? Why not test for COVID-19? - Reuters

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) Visitors at a Twin Cities beach learned police watch them in ways they didnt expect.

The Golden Valley Police Department used a drone to catch beachgoers breaking the law by going topless or nude at Twin Lake, just west of Theodore Wirth Park.

The serenity on the somewhat hidden beach is what draws visitors, along with an understanding of sorts that many freely bare their body. Elsie Olin frequents the beach.

Its really well known for being a safe place to just be comfortable, Olin said.

When Olin she was there Friday, July 10, that freedom of expression wasnt free from consequence as officers began taking information from people to potentially cite them for being topless or nude.

Golden Valley Police Det. Sgt. Randy Mahlen says something had to be done.

It had reached the point where it was time for people to be held accountable for their actions, Mahlen said.

He said they have received more than a dozen complaints this spring and summer regarding people being nude, drinking alcohol or doing drugs at the beach. Over the past weeks, he said officers strictly educated beachgoers on the laws and gave warnings. But repeated complaints led to Fridays enforcement. It included seven officers from GVPD and Minneapolis Parks Police.

At that point everybody was fully clothed. We had tops on. There was no indecent exposure, Olin said.

Even though their clothes were back on, it was too late. Mahlen said people were caught in the act thanks to their drone that was surveying the beach from afar. GVPD has officers who are trained drone pilots. They use the flying camera for several types of surveillance or police activity. The surveillance at the beach was legal since its a public place.

What it did was validate all of these complaints weve been getting from residents, Mahlen said. It would be no different than a surveillance camera in a public place for a high-crime area.

Paula Chesley was at a secluded spot on Twin Lake not far from the main beach. She was laying on her stomach and reading a book with her bathing suit top pulled down, exposing her breasts. She was shocked when several officers approached her and asked for her information to potentially write her a citation.

If they are gonna cite anyone for toplessness Im glad its me because I have energy to fight this, Chesley said. I think its really silly that people of all genders with all sorts of breasts cant show them.

Learning that police used a drone as part of their investigation gave her a different feeling.

It does make you feel uncomfortable to just think like, oh, how often am I being watched? And what kind of authority is going on here? she said.

Beachgoers that day also felt officers targeted certain people based on their skin color.

The two or three Black people that were super visible on the beach, [officers] went straight for them, Olin said.

Other witnesses in a Facebook video from that day also accused police singling out People of Color as some of the first to have their information take for being topless or nude.

Mahlen said officers were prepared to take information from several people who had been topless or nude, but that hostility from the crowd changed their plans.

We made the choice that things were only escalating and we chose to leave, he said.

Fridays incident comes at a time when the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is discussing whether to repeal an ordinance that bans women from being topless at city parks and beaches. Here is the ordinance PB2-21: Proper Attire Required:

No person ten [10] years of age or older shall intentionally expose his or her own genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breast below the top of the areola, with less than a fully opaque covering in or upon any park or parkway, as defined in PB1-1. This provision does not apply to theatrical, musical, or other artistic performances upon any park or parkway where no alcoholic beverages are sold.

Chris Meyer, District 1 Commissioner for the MPRB, supports repealing the ordinance. He wrote about it in a Facebook post saying in part:

I firmly believe the law should treat people equally regardless of gender. In spaces where men are allowed to go shirtless, women and transgender people should be able to as well. Inversely, in spaces where it would be inappropriate for women to expose their chests, it should be inappropriate for men as well. People should not be discriminated against just because heterosexual men have oversexualized them. Any argument that can be made against the exposure of a womans chest should apply just as strongly against the exposure of a mans chest.

If the ordinance is repealed, it could potentially impact the beach at Twin Lake since part of the lake is in Theodore Wirth Park. Both Olin and Chesley feel a change in the law is necessary.

Nudity is natural. Theres nothing sexual about my breasts, Olin said.

Chesley agrees.

I can understand peoples concerns based on the sexualization of the female breasts, and I would like to be able to move toward not so much sexualization of that, Chesley said.

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Police Use Drones To Check For Nudity On Twin Cities Beach - CBS Minnesota

Tens of thousands of Israelis flocked to beaches and national parks on Saturday for a final weekend swim, ahead of expected tighter restrictions on Fridays and Saturdays set to begin July 24.

Tseelon and Gofra beaches at the Sea of Galilee were shut due to overcrowding, and authorities asked visitors not to travel to the Dor, Beit Yanai and Palmachim beaches on the Mediterranean coast, which all reached capacity.

New public restrictions authorized by the government to combat the spread of the coronavirus entered into effect Friday at 5 p.m., limiting public gatherings until further notice and shuttering various leisure and fitness activities for the duration of the weekend.

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A tighter weekend lockdown is likely to take effect from next Friday, including potential restrictions on movement and the closing of beaches.

Illustrative people enjoy the beaches at the Sea of Galilee, on June 19, 2020 (David Cohen/Flash90)

On Friday, Dr. Hagai Levine, an epidemiologist who is the head of the Israeli Association of Public Health Physicians, criticized the expected beach closures, saying that transmission rates of the coronavirus were lower in outdoor areas.

Unfortunately, we see that our government is acting irrationally, and without an epidemiological basis. The beach is precisely the safest place, as the risk of infection in the open air is tens of times smaller than infection in an indoor place, he told the Kan public broadcaster.

It was a sentiment backed by beachgoers in the central town of Rishon Lezion, who told the Ynet news site that it seemed illogical to close the coastline.

As long as we keep our distance here with masks, no one can get infected. There are places that need to be closed, but here it is unnecessary, a woman named only as Ravit told the news site.

Israelis enjoy the beach in Tel Aviv on July 18, 2020 (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

Ron, who works at Tzuk Beach in Tel Aviv, also disagreed with the potential closure. For me it doesnt make sense at all. They come and decide to close all the beaches for no real justifiable reason, he said. Its sad that next week there will be more people without a livelihood.

The government has been accused by some of making the decision to shut beaches without any scientific basis, and instead focusing on a comment made by Interior Minister Aryeh Deri of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, who told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the countrys beaches are like a can of sardines at the weekends.

A last-minute reversal by the government on Friday led to a decision to keep restaurants open until Tuesday, when they will be shuttered until further notice for all but takeaways and deliveries. The government changed course when it faced widespread threats by restaurant owners to defy the closure order.

Under the new rules, gyms and fitness studios closed at 5 p.m. on Friday until further notice. Gatherings of over 10 people indoors, and 20 outdoors, are also forbidden until further notice, but work groups and nuclear families are exempt.

Additionally, government offices will be limited to 50% capacity and will be closed to the public, except for online services, until further notice.

Meanwhile, only on weekends until further notice, shops will close but stores offering essential services, such as pharmacies and supermarkets, will be allowed to remain open.

Malls, markets, barbers, hairdressers, beauty parlors, libraries, zoos, museums, exhibition spaces, pools and tourist sites will also be closed on weekends.

Chairs outside a fast food restaurant on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem on July 17, 2020 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)The weekend restrictions take effect at 5 p.m. on Friday, and are lifted at 5 a.m. on Sunday.

Netanyahu on Thursday asked Knesset Law Committee Chairman MK Yaakov Asher to prepare legislation to be voted on next week that would grant the government the authority to declare full lockdowns on weekends.

Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn vowed there will be no limits on demonstrations or on courts, even if a full lockdown is enacted down the road.

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Tens of thousands at beaches, parks ahead of expected lockdowns on weekends - The Times of Israel

Pools and beaches are expected to hit capacity this weekend as scorching temperatures are forecasted to hit Long Island.

With so many people expected, everyone is being reminded about the importance of social distancing.

MORE: Beat the HeatWeather CenterDix Hills pool among those requiring reservations before taking a dip

Signs at Jones Beach are telling residents to stay away from one another as best as they can both while on the sand and in the water. People are also being asked to wear face coverings while on the boardwalk, in bathrooms and at the concession stand.

Capacities at state park beaches are set at 50% and state officials are warning drivers to avoid beach access roads during peak hours after major traffic jams on the Robert Moses Causeway occurred last weekend.

Pools across Long Island are also expected to get crowded.

Officials in the towns of Brookhaven and Huntington say residents must make reservations if they want to head to the pool.

Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci says state guidelines only allow pools to have 70 people swimming at a time and around 150 people around the pool.

In Oyster Bay, pools are extending their hours to keep residents cool.

Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino says all community pools will stay open until 8:30 p.m. this weekend.

He says the pool will open at 11 a.m. and admission will be limited to town residents and non-residents with a permit. Capacity will also be reduced.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says social distancing rules at parks, beaches and pools should be enforced at local governments.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran says she is relying on residents and business to practice common sense.

"We do have enforcement arms out there, but they're just there to remind people about what they have to do," Curran says. "People are doing a great job and we need them to keep doing it."

Nassau County will be opening three cooling centers over the next four days in Hicksville, Wantagh and Uniondale.

Health experts are warning residents to avoid alcohol if they are out in the heat and to drink lots of water. They also are reminding everyone to apply and reapply sunscreen.

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LI residents expected to fill pools, beaches as possible heat wave rolls in - News 12 Long Island

Im walking my dog down our lonely road in Newtown when a driver pulls over to ask directions.

Is there a beach around here?

The Pup and I were just pondering how to end this column about beaches. Then this guy arrives to serve as start and finish.

The driver and I stare at each other for a moment. Hes probably wondering why this would be a difficult question. Meanwhile, Im contextualizing. Thirty miles from the nearest sand along Long Island Sound might seem like around here to someone from, say, South Dakota.

Um, sorry, I finally reply. You probably saw the lake around the corner. Theres no beach.

Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time Editorial Page Editorial John Breunig won honorable mention in the print humor category in the National Society of Newspaper Columnists annual column contest. Breunig is a repeat winner in the category and a past honoree in the general interest category.

Well loop back to that in 625 words.

Yes, Im being a tad strict with my beach definition. Having lived near a shoreline most of my life, I confess to mourning its absence since moving from Stamford a couple years ago. So does The Kid. He also misses city life, so we drive two hours with Mom to visit a friend in Queens, New York, for a one-day vacation at Americas largest urban beach.

Dont look, its a surprise, he warns before dawns early light. My eyes are still closed, so this game works for me.

But I am surprised, as he is making sandwiches for the first time in his eight years. He also crams blankets, a pop-up tent, umbrella, chairs and a bucket of beach toys into the trunk of our Honda Civic.

The Civic briefly surrenders a couple miles into the trip when the plastic undercarriage splash shield sags after popping a button. Not to be thwarted, I perform meatball surgery with zip ties.

One of the many wonders of Rockaway Beach is that it is free. The only price is the walk of shame in lugging said blankets, tent, umbrella, chairs, bucket and cooler from a space in front of a neighborhood house.

They refer to people like you as being Down for the Day, our friend says of her neighbors. She says some carry so much they resemble the Grinch tilting in his overstuffed sled.

The Kid and I further dress the part by wearing Hawaiian shirts. I make a silent pledge to don a Ramones Rockaway Beach T-shirt should we ever return to Hawaii.

Choosing a spot on the beach during the pandemic reminds me of movie-goers shuffling for the best seat in the Avons smaller theater in Stamford. A woman on the horizon settles into her spot. A family parks on her left, apparently too close for comfort. So she does the crab crawl to the right. A couple lands and traps her on the other side.

Beach policy calls for masks when not in the water, with parks staff offering them as needed. While social distancing is respected, people clearly dread bringing home a mask tan even more than COVID. As a nudge to passersby, I make masks from napkins and put them on a couple of Barbie dolls that were stowaways in the bucket of toys. It is a dud, as a pack of nearby high schoolers squeeze together for a self-declared moment-in-time selfie. If theres any age group to maintain social distancing from right now, its recently retired high schoolers.

My fellow day tripper, meanwhile, pretends to charge the waters like the Beatles running from girls at the opening of A Hard Days Night (hes been binging), poses as Mr. Narwhal rising from the Arctic waters in Elf, and rolls in the sand to do his impersonation of a cinnamon doughnut.

As always, I am able to mine curative powers from the ocean. Rather than rub salt to sting wounds, the salt water is a magical elixir of healing properties. It cures the toothache in my heel, the poison ivy in my soul and clears sinuses clogged with anxiety.

It also is a chance to consider the NOMB (Not on My Beach) issue from the other end of the periscope. The matter of New Yorkers storming beaches is a hot topic in Stamford right now, and has always sizzled in Greenwich. I get it, but have never been able to get past the elemental reasoning that the waterfront should be available to everyone.

So, here we are, Connecticut Yankees putting the flip-flop on the other foot. I learn that the Rockaway neighbors like to forego their driveways in favor of street parking to block out space invaders. Its like Shippan with street smarts.

So, 625 words and a day later, were back in Newtown trying to advise steamy travelers in search of sand. I recommend nearby hiking trails, only to read disappointment in their faces.

I can understand, I offer sympathetically. We used to live in Stamford and miss the beaches.

Oh, we came from Stamford, they reply.

I guess were all going against the tide.

John Breunig is editorial page editor of The Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time. Jbreunig@scni.com; twitter.com/johnbreunig.

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John Breunig: Flip-flop is on the other foot when visiting beaches in New York - CT Insider

A pair of whale strandings in Maine are concerningscientists and marine mammal rescuers.

Over the past month, two beaked whales, a rarely seen type of whale with teeth, have washed ashore and died in the state, first in June in York and then weeks later in Phippsburg.

Last Saturday, a Phippsburg family contacted Marine Mammals of Maine, which responds to strandings, after they saw what they thought was a pilot whale or dolphin that was beached on a mudflat.

They discovered her around that low tide period and heard her breathing, said Lynda Doughty, founder of Marine Mammals of Maine.

Divers in Thailand saw a whale shark with a nylon rope tied around its tail. The tense video shows one of the divers attempted to use a knife to cut off the rope but was unsuccessful.

She lives in Phippsburg and went to the flat to check on the whale.

While neither animal could be saved, Doughty said it is clear the two whales are two different species of beaked whale, one that's never been seen before in Maine.

She also said that, despite how sad the deaths are, they allow scientists to gather important information about an animal that typically lives in deep water, far offshore, with few specimens retrieved for study.

The last beaked whale spotted in Maine was a carcass thatwas found in Cape Elizabeth in 2014.

We do get to learna lot of valuable information from this species, and the dissection -- and actually the first whale and parts of the second whale -- will be going to the Smithsonian for them to look at as well, Doughty said.

The tissue analysis and research, especially into what contributed to the whales deaths, will take some time, quite possibly months.

Until then, Doughty said, its difficult to speculate what caused them to come so close to shore.

Its too early to tell and until we have all the facts wedont assume anything, she explained.

If someone does see a beaked whale or another mammal on the beach, Doughty said they can call the stranding hotline on the Marine Mammals of Maine website.

She advised people who are not trained to rescue these types of animals to stay away from them, because they will not know humans approaching them are there to help and may thrash at them in a dangerous way.

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2 Rarely Seen Beaked Whales Die on Maine Beaches Within Weeks - NECN

After a sunny hot weekend that drove beach goers to Gloucester, beach parking lots will be closed to non-residents this weekend, city officials announced Tuesday night.

Reports of excessive traffic from residents prompted the closures that will be in place on July 18 and 19, according to a joint statement by the City of Gloucester, the Gloucester Health Department, and the Department of Public Works.

The last thing we want to do is close our parking lots to visitors, but our City was had an influx of traffic this past weekend, Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken said in the statement. We need to reduce the amount of traffic, which is a challenge we face every year but has certainly been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

City staff will be working at Stage Fort Park, Good Harbor Beach, and Wingaersheek Beach parking lots to ensure non-residents do not park there, the statement said.

Romeo Theken said people who are looking to go outside after staying at home for months, along with limits placed on travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have made traffic worse for Gloucester residents.

It isnt a sustainable situation for our residents, she said.

Additionally, high tide is expected to take place early in the day at 10:21 a.m. Saturday and 11:07 a.m. Sunday, reducing the area of beach available for visitors, according to the statement.

Residents can get access to the parking lots with a 2020 beach sticker, a 2019 beach sticker, or a license and registration with a Gloucester address, the statement said.

Beaches in Gloucester are currently open to a limited number of non-residents on weekdays. Visitors are still allowed to park at public beach parking lots on weekdays, the statement said.

Visitors are asked to maintain at least 12 feet between toweling and blanket areas, according to the statement.

Gloucester officials will announce next week whether or not the parking lots will be open to non-residents for the weekend of July 25 and July 26, the statement said.

Andrew Stanton can be reached at andrew.stanton@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @_andrewstanton.

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Gloucester beach parking lots to be closed to non-residents this weekend - The Boston Globe

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Tropical Storm Cristobal ate away the beach of Louisianas only inhabited barrier island to the huge sand-filled tube at the core of a protective levee, and the Army Corps of Engineers says permits and studies keep it or anyone else from repairing much of the beach until well after hurricane season.

State and local officials say the work needs to be done now because its hurricane season -- and expected to be an intense one, The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate reported. Two tropical storms formed before the seasons official June 1 start, and Tropical Storm Fay, which hit New Jersey last week, was the earliest sixth-named storm on record.

This is an emergency situation. Hell, youve got half the beach thats gone, and some parts there is no beach, Chip Kline, head of the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, said during a CPRA meeting Wednesday.

But without an imminent threat such as a hurricane bearing down on the island, the Corps schedule for previously planned work on the levee it built in 2014 is bound by earlier agreements and permitting timelines, said the Corps deputy district engineer, Mark Wingate.

We all understand its urgent, he said.

The storm in early June damaged nearly 2,000 feet (610 meters) of the levee along the islands west side, sweeping away about 85 feet (26 meters) of sand outside the levee to expose the tube, which locals call the burrito.

Another storm could burst the tube, destroying homes and businesses behind it, says Mayor David Camardelle. Im worried to death this island will be cut in half, he told the newspaper in June.

The second phase of a $15 million Corps project would add 400,000 cubic yards of sand across the beach, behind five recently completed stone breakwaters installed as phase 1. But the beach work is not scheduled to start until January, with completion expected in June 2022.

Were prepared to take some temporary action on our own, and do some temporary fixes in the event theres a storm in three weeks, Kline told Corps representatives Wednesday. At least wed have some rocks or some additional sand to protect that segment of levee.

CPRA wants to take over the project and get the sand in as soon as possible, with the Corps reimbursing it for costs, which could top $8 million.

The Corps unwillingness to agree to full reimbursement rankled Kline.

That is ridiculous to me, he said. CPRA and Jefferson Parish paid for repairs after a mild winter storm in 2016. The Corps wouldnt papy because the damage was not caused by an extraordinary event like a hurricane, agency officials said.

It was supposed to withstand a Category 3 hurricane but continues to fail during tropical storms and rainfall events, Kline said.

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'In some parts there is no beach': Storm ate at island levee - Associated Press

MOREHEAD CITY State standards for beach fill projects remain unchanged, with state officials Thursday readopting technical standards for such efforts.

The N.C. Coastal Resources Commission met for a special meeting via teleconference Thursday to take action on three rules. N.C. Division of Coastal Management Deputy Director Mike Lopazanski, who was present for the meeting, said the three rules were due for their 10-year reassessment under state statute.

The CRC is the state rulemaking body which creates regulations for coastal development, while the DCM is the agency which enforces those rules and conducts research and studies for the CRC.

Mr. Lopazanski said a public comment period was held from May 15 through Tuesday for the reassessed rules. No comments were received and no changes were proposed.

The commission unanimously readopted the technical standards for beach fill projects during Thursdays meeting. The projects include beach nourishment, dredged material disposal, habitat restoration, storm protection and erosion control projects.

The readopted standards set the criteria for conducting beach fill projects, including how to characterize recipient beaches, how to characterize the sediment placed on the beach or beaches in question, the criteria for determining sediment compatibility and excavation and placement criteria.

The CRC also unanimously readopted rules for coastal development project periods, commencement and continuation, including rules for commencing or continuing development in an ocean hazard area of environmental concern.

The CRC also unanimously readopted rules for extending coastal development project periods. The rule allows extending minor Coastal Area Management Act permits for beach bulldozing one time by 30 days.

It also allows extending CAMA permit for up to two years for a project that hasnt begun yet. Projects with substantial development begun and ongoing may be granted as many two-year extensions as necessary to complete the initial development.

Contact Mike Shutak at 252-723-7353, email mike@thenewstimes.com; or follow onTwitter at @mikesccnt.

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State OKs standards for beach fill projects, other coastal development rules - Carolinacoastonline

SAN DIEGO Residents around San Diego County who plan on taking a dip in the ocean this weekend can look forward to warm water.

The elevated temperatures, reported by forecasters and noted in an article Thursday by the San Diego Union-Tribune, will account for some of the warmest water around the region recorded on this week over the past 10 years.

The water was around 71.6 degrees at Mission Beach on Friday, 72.3 degrees in Oceanside, and over 74 degrees in both La Jolla and Encinitas. Under clear, sunny skies, the water temperatures should be elevated throughout the weekend, even reaching 77 in some spots.

Beaches remain open in San Diego County during the coronavirus pandemic, but residents are urged to only visit with members of their immediate household and to maintain social distance from others.

As the U-Ts Gary Robbins points out, its also always a good idea to shuffle your feet as you enter and exit the water to scare off stingrays.

Click here for your forecast and more San Diego weather information.

Excerpt from:

Leave the wetsuit home: Warm water forecast for local beaches - fox5sandiego.com

This trail leads right around and goes down to the beach.

Charlie Young pointed to a little pathway off a road in Madison thats technically state property. He says its a 15 minute walk to the beach, which is causing major problems on the roads.

People were just walking with their coolers and their umbrellas and their kids down the street to walk to the park, said David Donahue, owner of Donahues Clam Castle.

People are finding other ways into Hammonasset State Park afterit reaches the reduced parking limit under COVID-19 guidelines.

A lot of out of state plates, a lot of Connecticut platesbut Ive never seen the side streets down here so full of parked cars, andpeople walking into Hammonasset, said Young.

I get that question all the time from people coming in canwe park here and go to the beach? and I have to unfortunately say to them no,said Donahue.

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes reiterated the message today, telling people not to walk in to state parks.

We are doing this to keep you safe. Please do not park on aside street and try to walk in, said Dykes.

Madison resident Vincent Siniscalchi agrees.

I wouldnt let the people walk, theyre walking down Route 1 which is dangerous, said Siniscalchi

Madison police say theres little they can do on the roadsand paths that are state property. Theyre aware of the parking headaches, sotheyve added new no parking signs on town streets.

If youre parked in front of a fire hydrant or you're blocking a driveway or blocking a driveway, you will be towed. I mean thats the law, said Capt. Joseph Race of the Madison Police Department.

He says people who have driven hours from out of state arentlikely to go home if they find Hammonasset closed when they get to Madison. So theyrewilling to work with people if they follow the rules.

The town of Madison has three beaches that are open to thepublic, only the parking is restricted to residents.

The train station does have plenty of parking up that way, there is on-street parking in the center of town, said Race.

Theyre also reducing capacity at the town beaches whereMadison recreation staff will monitor the number of people in the sand.

At a certain point, we may have to close the gates to walk-ins as well.

He adds theyll have extra patrols out this weekendmonitoring parking and handing out tickets, so plan ahead and pack patience.

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Officials Warn of Beach Parking Problems In Madison - NBC Connecticut

We are struggling to keep the crowds under control at the beaches, Raimondo said.

Even with parking capacity limited, Rhode Island beaches saw 50,000 more cars last month than at the same time last year, she said. And last weekend, the state received reports of numerous social distancing and face mask scofflaws at the beaches, particularly people in their 20s.

It got out of control last weekend, Raimondo said. Im hearing from far too many businesses that often young employees are getting harassed by patrons who are cranky about keeping social distance or wearing a mask. You shouldnt have to deal with that.

So the state will place parking limits on those two popular beaches while also stepping up enforcement to ensure that beach-goers take health precautions and dont park illegally on surrounding roads. Temperatures are predicted to be in the 90s this weekend.

Im sorry that we have to do this, but its necessary, Raimondo said.

The governor said she understands the desire of Ocean State residents to hit the beach. I get it, she said. Vacations have been canceled. Everyone has been stuck in the house. Lots of summer camps are still canceled. You dont know what to do with your kids. Its 90 degrees. Its time to go to the beach.

But if people are going to go to the shore, they must wear face masks when using the restroom, going to the concession stand, or gathering on pavilions in groups.

If people continue to flout those rules, the state could see the virus surge as it has in other states, Raimondo warned. For example, she said, Florida saw the number of COVID-19 cases double in 15 days, Arizona saw a 300 percent increase in cases in June, and Texas saw its hospitalizations double in just 14 days.

The point is: This changes quickly, Raimondo said.

And if a similar surge hits Rhode Island, the governor said she will be forced to clamp down and close parts of the economy that have reopened since the pandemic began.

On Tuesday, the Department of Health reported 102 new cases of COVID-19, marking the first time since June 10 that the state reported at least 100 new infections, and the 3.5 percent positive test rate was the highest since the end of May.

By Wednesday, the numbers were back down: The state reported 52 new cases, the positive test rate was down to 1.8 percent, and Raimondo said Rhode Island remains in a good place relative to other states.

But, she said, If we let our guard down, we are going to see a surge. Thats not my opinion. That is just a fact. This virus is lurking with us and will be every day until we have a widely available vaccine.

Raimondo warned that while the statewide positive test rate is back under 2 percent, 7 percent of Rhode Islanders in their 20s are testing positive, and she said that too many people in that age bracket are congregating at beaches while ignoring face mask and social distance rules.

You guys got to do better, she said. I know its summer. I know you want to party. I know you want to go to the beach. I know you want to go out.

But she said a resurgence in the virus would make it harder for people to return to work, for businesses to reopen, and for students to return to school.

Department of Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said its crucial that Rhode Islanders remain vigilant.

We are absolutely seeing social gatherings as a source of these new cases, whether on the beach where people are close together and not masking, or on boats, at home, and other places, she said. We have to address this together with kindness and consideration.

On Wednesday, the Department of Health reported that two more Rhode Islanders had died of COVID-19, bringing the state death toll to 987. The 52 new cases brought the total number of positive tests to 17,640. A total of 59 people are hospitalized with the virus, five are in intensive care, and three are on ventilators, the state reported.

Alexander-Scott announced that Rhode Island will launch a second round of serology testing to see how many people have coronavirus antibodies in their blood. The testing will give health officials a better understanding of how prevalent the virus is in the state, she said. Rhode Island is one of just three sites in the country doing this round of testing, along with Detroit and New York City, she said.

Also, Raimondo provided details of her plan to use federal coronavirus relief funding to help small businesses.

She announced that $50 million will be made available to support small businesses that were hit hardest by the pandemic, such as restaurants, caterers, and other businesses with 20 or fewer employees. Grants of up to $15,000 will go to businesses that can show they have lost significant portions of their revenue in past few months, she said.

Raimondo said 20 percent of the funds will be set aside for minority-owned businesses.

If the initial $50 million goes quickly, that can be replenished with additional federal funds, she said. This is a first step. This isnt it. This is the beginning.

Raimondo announced that another $26 million in federal stimulus money will be made available for critical small business support services, including nonprofit grants, technical assistance to businesses, and a repositioning program to help change business models.

We have heard a lot from small businesses that, yes, they need some money to keep the lights on, but they also need a hand to adjust their business model for this new economy how to sell things online, how to allow people to work from home, she said.

Raimondo announced that another $20 million will be made available from the Small Business Development Fund that the General Assembly authorized last year, and the state is working with federal Economic Development Administration to provide $5 million to help the states tourism industry.

Raimondo had criticized the Small Business Development Fund when it was proposed last year, but she said it has been transformed into a program that can help small businesses hurt by the coronavirus outbreak.

With all those funding sources are combined, Raimondo said the result is that $100 million will quickly go out the door to small businesses.

But the applications wont be available online for a couple of weeks, she said, adding that the framework for the funding would be posted later Wednesday at commerceri.com.

Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com

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Its been party hearty at Rhode Islands beaches, and Raimondo is cracking down - The Boston Globe

ROXBURY, NJ As the weekend forecast calls for temperatures in the 90s, heres some good news: The township is now selling a limited number of same-day passes to Horseshoe Lake Beach.

The decision was announced Tuesday by Roxbury Mayor Bob DeFillippo.

Although the beach in Succasunna has been open since June 27, those who wanted to go there but didnt want to buy season passes had to pre-registerthe day before their visit if they wanted day passes.

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We have been monitoring beach attendance, as we said we would, and staff has determined, based on their review, that we can offer a few day passes each day, DeFillippo said. Ten day passes will be available on days when registration is otherwise not full.

In an effort to ensure sufficient social distancing at the beach, attendance is limited to 280 people at one time. The mayor said this plan seems to be working.

"I am pleased to report that Township Manager John Shepherd tells me all is going well at the beach and, for the most part, beach-goers are practicing social distancing, DeFillippo said. We want to thank everyone for their cooperation while visiting the beach.

The on-the-spot day passes will be available at the beach on a first-come-first-served basis. They will cost $5 for a resident and $10 for non-residents.

DeFillippo said Roxbury Councilman Tom Carey was the chief advocate for offering daily passes.

Masks and Distancing 'Not That Much to Ask'

Speaking on July 14, DeFillippo said 17 more Roxbury residents were determined to have COVID-19 since he last gave an update on June 23. That brought the total to 303 reported cases, he said.

While the number of confirmed cases has dramatically slowed, we did see a slight uptick since our last report a reminder that Covid-19 is not yet through with Roxbury, said the mayor.

He urged people to wear masks when they are outside and unable to be at least six feet away from others, as dictated by Gov. Phil Murphys recent order.

We ask that residents be considerate to others and practice social distancing in our parks and on our trails, DeFillippo said. We have received several reports that people are not keeping a safe distance when using our recreational facilities and are not wearing masks.

He contended it is very inconsiderate and potentially dangerous to others when you do not follow those rules, and asserted that adhereing tothe guidelines is not much to ask, and we simply do not understand why anyone would object.

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Roxbury Offers On-the-Spot Beach Passes as Hot Weekend Approaches - TAPinto.net

All of our doctors agreed that by driving to the beach house, which had touchless check-in, and aiming to stay there for the week with minimal trips into town, we were taking a fairly safe, low-risk trip. Because my family is all clustered in Northern Virginia and own their cars, they were only crossing one state border.

The biggest logistical question was how I could get there from New York. A friend who had just tested negative for a live COVID-19 test and was in my quarantine bubble ended up driving me to my mother's house, and from there I rode to the beach with my mom. The drive from New York to Virginia goes through four states, including New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Marylandand we did not plan a single stop, rather pulling over as we needed to eat or use the restroom, and sussing it out from there. It's hard to emphasize how consistently safe the rest stops felt across all states, from New York to North Carolina. Masks were required, social distancing was being practiced, and sanitation appeared high.

Lastly, we plotted out all of our meals for the duration of the trip in a shared spreadsheet, well in advance, with different adults assigned to various meals. This allowed us to do as much advanced shopping as possible, and bring in a majority of our groceries. In the end, only a few stray stops into town for fresh ingredients, like seafood, were needed.

We brought all of our own beach chairs, umbrellas, and boogie boards, mainly because we already had the gear we needed for a week of beach days. Our days were loosely structured around meals, with a group breakfast starting at 8 a.m. (though some slept in), hitting the beach around 10:30 a.m., and lunch on the sand, preferably with a Modelo in hand. In the evenings, cocktail hour and a group dinner were always on the agenda.

On the beach, we collected seashells, swam, read, and someone was always napping in the sun. After coming from such a densely populated city like New York, where there's no choice but to wear masks wherever you go, it was such a relief to be on a wide, open beach where the next stranger was at least 50 yards away. We had read up on bubbling for a trip like this, and all our prep work made it possible to hang up our masks while at our homebase, and hug constantly. We pretty much kept to the house, but when we did venture into town, it was masks on, six feet away from other people, and hand sanitizer at the ready. But another thing that came as a surprise, after my months in a crowded city? At the local Food Lion, the parking lot was so large you couldn't get near anyone else. Ditto inside the actual store, which was so massive, I only got within feet of another person at check-out.

One of the reasons I'm so in favor of the beach house trip is that once you've arrived, the rest is easy. Despite being so simple, this trip was especially poignant: I'd been quarantining in my Brooklyn studio since March; they'd been doing the same in their respective homes (with children, no less). Six weeks before the plan came together, we weren't even sure when we'd be together again. But here I was, building Legos with my niece and nephew; cuddling up for a movie the one day it rained; screaming as we jumped over large, salty ocean waves together. Every night, as we sat down to dinner and toasted over crab cakes and steaks fresh off the grill, the ocean right behind us, it made every bit of preparation worth it.

We're reporting on how COVID-19 impacts travel on a daily basis. Find all of our coronavirus coverage and travel resources here.

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How We Planned a Multigenerational Beach Trip to Emerald Isle, N.C. - Cond Nast Traveler

U.S. beach volleyball teammates Kelly ClaesandSarah Sponcilwere all packed and minutes from driving separately to Los Angeles International Airport in mid-March when they received the notification.

An FIVB World Tour event in Sydney, Australia, their first of the Olympic year, was canceled due to the emerging coronavirus pandemic.

We called each other, Sponcil said. We kind of were in that moment of now what? Like everyone else.

Claes, 24, and Sponcil, 23, then spent nearly the entire spring apart. Sponcil drove to her native Arizona. Claes hunkered in Southern California, where stay-at-home measures were instituted. Beaches closed. Beach volleyball tournaments, in the U.S. and abroad, were wiped off the calendar. The Olympics were postponed to 2021.

It was heartbreaking, especially given Claes and Sponcil accepted the risk of flying abroad back in March. While other teams withdrew from the Sydney event, they were entered right up until the cancellation.

We were prepared to go out and play and get quarantined out there, Claes said. We had friends in Australia. Well quarantine with them.

Every tournament could be vital for Claes and Sponcil over the next year, starting with the AVP Champions Cup. The three-legged substitute for a season is being held in the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center parking lot with imported sand. Matches are the next three Saturdays and Sundays with coverage on NBC Sports.

Next year, Claes and Sponcil can become the youngest U.S. Olympic beach volleyball team in history. So every extra opportunity to play together is viewed as beneficial.

Theyre also ranked third more than halfway through U.S. Olympic qualifying. The top two teams go to Tokyo. Thats why they were so intent on flying to Sydney. The No. 2 team of Kerri Walsh JenningsandBrooke Sweat, plus others, withdrew before the event was canceled.

We want to pursue the Olympics, Sponcil said. If our health is on the line, were going to risk it.

The AVP is not part of Olympic qualifying. But Claes and Sponcil will continue to season a partnership that is not yet two years old. All of the other teams going for U.S. Olympic spots are in the AVP Champions Cup field, except for Walsh Jennings and Sweat, given the three-time gold medalist is no longer under AVP contract.

In U.S. Olympic qualifying, world silver medalists April RossandAlix Klinemanhold a substantial 1,800-point lead over Walsh Jennings and Sweat. Claes and Sponcil are another 320 points behind. When international play resumes, the standings can change in a week. A team can earn as many as 1,200 points for a top-level international title.

Walsh Jennings, who is 41, is trying to become the oldest Olympic beach volleyball player ever. She has said this will be her last Olympic run. If Claes and Sponcil accomplish their goal of qualifying for Tokyo, they will also likely end the Olympic career of a legend.

I havent thought about it all that much, Claes said. Theres so many different outside voices and pressures. Weve been just trying to stay in our own little bubble and focus on what we need to focus on.

Plenty has kept them busy since partnering in September 2018.

Weve gone to hell and back, Claes said last year on the beach volleyball podcast Sandcast.

Claes won NCAA beach volleyball titles with USC in 2016 and 2017. She and fellow TrojanSara Hughesbegan playing internationally with a pedigree to become the next great U.S. team. Their bond was so strong that Hughes turned down Walsh Jennings proposal to partner up in 2017.

But in 2018, Hughes decided to pair withSummer Rossfor a Tokyo Olympic run (which ended after Ross suffered a 2019 back injury). Claes finished the 2018 season with veteranBrittany Hochevar, then had to decide about a Tokyo Olympic run.

Claes interviewed multiple potential partners. She reached out to Sponcil, a promising player who was still competing collegiately for UCLA.

Sponcil was a revelation during her summer break from the Bruins. She made her AVP main-draw debut with Rio Olympian Lauren Fendrickand reached a final, dropping two close sets to April Ross and Klineman. Sponcil and Fendrick trained together once or twice before the tournament, which took place two weeks after Sponcil and the Bruins won the NCAA beach title.

Story continues

Before that, I didnt really have a future planned, said Sponcil, a setter for UCLAs indoor team after transferring from Loyola Marymount, where she was that schools Female Athlete of the Year. I kind of wanted to go the indoor, USA national team route, but after we did so well in that tournament, it kind of flipped a switch. I kind of wanted to pursue beach.

The late summer/early fall of 2018 was the crucial time. Olympic qualifying was about to start. Partner switches were happening. April Ross and Klineman paired a year earlier. Hughes and Summer Ross (no relation) earlier that year.

When Claes and Sponcil molded their team over lunch at a Southern California burrito joint, Walsh Jennings was still on the lookout. Claes was one of the players who worked out with Walsh Jennings. All of the players flew to China in early autumn for tournaments.

I think it was still a little open in my mind, to consider a partnership with the triple gold medalist, Claes said. I mean, Kerri Walsh Jennings, amazing athlete. Five Olympics under her belt. I felt like I could learn a lot from her.

Claes and Sponcil, in their first tournament together, finished third in a mid-level event in Qinzhou. Claes had agreed the next week to play with Walsh Jennings, who then right before the tournament announced Sweat as her new partner for the upcoming Olympic run.

Claes and Walsh Jennings, both blockers at 6 feet and change, still played that one event together. They won their first two matches. In the third, they went a set up on April Ross and Klineman, who already established themselves as the top U.S. team. Ross and Klineman rallied to win in three. Claes hasnt played with anyone other than Sponcil since.

[Walsh Jennings] and Sarah were, like, top of my list, said Claes, who also tried out with April Ross in 2017 before Ross teamed with Klineman. Each one would have been such a unique journey to go down. Im so thankful it worked out the way it has because I get to now experience life with Sarah. I get to experience this journey fresh with Sarah, and we get to do it together versus if I had decided to play with Kerri, so much experience on her end. It would be me, I kind of feel like, tailing along and figuring out things as I go in that regard versus getting to live it with my partner.

Sponcil said she felt confident that Claes would not leave her for the most decorated Olympic beach volleyball player in history.

Theres always those thoughts, but I dont think it really rattled me too much, Sponcil said. [Claes] was looking for a partner that was younger that she could kind of grow with.

Claes and Sponcil forged ahead. Sponcil came up with a team name Slaes. They write songs and perform them in videos.

Were both so goofy and dorky, said Claes, a fan of Comic-Con, Dungeons & Dragons and the cartoon Rick and Morty. We play off of each other so well.

In competition, they opened the 2019 season in the hell that Claes mentioned. The U.S. was so deep in teams that Claes and Sponcil had to play an all-American qualifier just to get into the normal qualifying tournament for an FIVB World Tour main-draw event in Itapema, Brazil. Its called a country quota.

This country quota came against Walsh Jennings and Sweat. That made it key, given the Olympic qualifying race. The veteran Olympians doused Claes and Sponcil 21-12, 21-14 in 28 minutes. Claes and Sponcil traveled all the way to Brazil for 28 minutes of competition. The early loss meant their travel expenses would not be reimbursed. Plus, they had to play in hurricane-like conditions.

I was holding the ball out on my hand, and it was blowing out of my hand, Claes said.

The early exit turned out to be a blessing. Claes and Sponcil used the extra time before their next tournament in China to train for a week straight. Before that, they were together on sand once or twice a week given Sponcil was finishing her last season with UCLA.

That really changed the momentum for us for the rest of our season, Claes said.

From there, Claes and Sponcil made the semifinals of all four of their AVP starts. They made the final of an FIVB World Tour event in Espinho, Portugal.

There is still room for growth. They have yet to beat April Ross and Klineman or Walsh Jennings and Sweat, according to BVBInfo, but should get plenty of opportunities before Olympic qualifying closes next year.

I really feel like were going to qualify and go the distance here, said Claes, who as a teenager fractured her spine and underwent a cardiac ablation to treat supraventricular tachycardia. I honestly think we have the most to gain from this kind of pause time because we are the youngest team and we have the least experience together. I think we have all the advantages of this time to gain some more experience before this last push before the Olympics.

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MORE: Champions Cup marks beach volleyballs socially distanced return

Kelly Claes, Sarah Sponcil want to be the youngest U.S. Olympic beach volleyball team ever originally appeared on NBCSports.com

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Kelly Claes, Sarah Sponcil want to be the youngest U.S. Olympic beach volleyball team ever - Yahoo Sports

The top infectious disease expert in the U.S. issued a warning to young people as cases of the coronavirus continue to climb, with many infections occuring in younger Americans. (June 26) AP Domestic

Florida's record-setting spike in COVID-19 caseshasn't stopped visitors from partyingin Miami Beach, which its mayor, Dan Gelber, calls "the epicenter of the epicenter."

While the fact that Miami is a tourist hot spotis typically a positive, it's exactly the opposite at a time when the city has more than 69,000 cases, the most of any Florida county and more than twice as much as neighboring Broward, the next on the list, according to USA TODAY data.

Florida has recorded more than 77,000 cases in the past week alone and over 300,000 in all. The state all on its own has more infections than the United Kingdom or Spain, reports The Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Still, crowds continue to gather on Ocean Drive and on party boats, often promoted on Eventbrite, according to Gelber.

R-0 may be the most important scientific term youve never heard of when it comes to stopping the coronavirus pandemic. USA TODAY

Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, a resident of Miami Beach and a former commissioner ofMiami Beach, told USA TODAY that she was on South Beach's iconic Ocean Drive on Monday night as the areastarted to fill with revelers.

"We have this huge party every single night on Ocean Drive," she said, addingthat the party has gone on nightly for years, though it originally began as a holiday weekend tradition. There are "throngs of people in the streets with open containers, nobody is wearing masks, no one is social distancing,no police presence and it presents a real danger."

She said that most attendees are tourists from across the country and notedshe spoke to somefrom New York City and Chicago.

Mitch Novick, who owns the Sherbrooke All Suites Hotel, which is situated behind a nightclub, echoed Rosen Gonzalez's concerns about the parties which both noted havebeen happening for years.

"It's a public safety issue not just with the risk of coronavirus infectionbut with getting shot and stabbed and sexually assaulted all at the same time," Novick said."The latter of incidents I referenced have been going on for years."

Novick said he has seen very few people social distancing or wearing masks in the area which features tight spaces and called the area a "hotbed" for infection

The "chaos," which Novick said happens daily at varying hours, is brought on by tourists. "It's a spring break type of crowd," he said. "Teenagers, 20-somethings just doing what should not be happening now with this global health crisis."

Gelber told USA TODAYthat one statistic stood out during a Wednesday briefing from the Florida Department of Healthhighlighting that the parties are part of the problem.

"By multiples, the largest group of cases is the 18-to-34 age category in Miami-Dade," he said, noting that those people are likely infecting family members ofother age groups in the area."That group is the most likely to be ignoring the social-distance instructions and are also the ones most likely (to get COVID-19)through whatever parties they're having."

And that is worrying for another reason: The surge in casesis straining the county's resources.

"As of today, our county capacity for intensive care patients was 423 beds and we currently have 438 COVID patients," hesaid in a Tuesday statement."That means our county is 'over'capacity."

But the stats aren't enough to discourage all vacationers.

We know theres a pandemic going on but its not like youre not going to live your life, Tamia Young, a 36-year-old visiting from Brooklyn told Reuters.

As a result of the rising cases, Miami-Dade County shut down indoor dining and has imposed a 10 p.m.curfew. The city also put a ban on vacation rentals, including Airbnb, Gelber said.

"If these actions dont reverse these upward arcs, then most certainly in a few weeks or less well have to consider more drastic measures," he said in the statement Tuesday, urging people to wear masks.

On Wednesday, Gelber told USA TODAY that shutting down Ocean Drive entirely could be on the table.

And while authorities have been able to stop some promoted bar parties and may be able to shut down areas of the city, there are other party problems that are less easy to solve.

"The boats are a big issue the promoted party boats have expanded dramatically since weve been stopping promoted parties at bars," Gelber explained, referencing the state's late-June order that essentially shut down bars again. He notedthat some boat parties are organized and others are more impromptu.

But the issue of stopping private parties goes beyond the boats. Gelber said it has been tough to enforce social distancing at private parties.

"We cant really stop private homes from doing stupid things," he said, noting that they are trying to stop people from violating social distancing rules. "There are clearly too many people who are not even trying ... they are actively not complying."

Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber says he hasn't ruled out shutting down Ocean Drive, which has attracted young crowds looking to party despite Florida's high COVID-19 infection rate.(Photo: S_Hoss/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis acknowledged Monday that coronavirusis spreading and urged people to take precautions such as wearing masks in public places, social distancing and avoiding crowds.

We have to address the virus with steady resolve. We cant get swept away in fear, we have to understand what is going on, understand that we have a long road ahead but we also have to understand that within the context of the moment, he said during a Miami news conference.

While the outbreak has been spreading through much of the state, it has hit South Florida particularly hard, both now and throughout the pandemic. Its three counties Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach only make up about a quarter of the state's population but have been responsible for about half the new cases. That rise promptedallthree counties to closetheir beaches for the July 4th weekend.

Florida International University epidemiologist Dr. Aileen Martycalled the region's situation extremely grave, warning thatthe public is not taking this virus seriously enough andignoring the guidelines DeSantis and others have been pushing.

They have not adhered to guidelines, Marty said at an online news conference with Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez. They have been in those closed spaces without taking the appropriate precautions, and thats the main reason we are where we are.

People are enthusiastically flocking: Florida begins reopening beaches amid coronavirus crisis

Contributing: The Associated Press

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'Epicenter of the epicenter': Young people partying in Miami Beach despite COVID-19 threat - USA TODAY

Olympic beach volleyball hopeful Tri Bourne was more eager than most to get back to competition after the coronavirus pandemic shut down the sports world.

But first, he needed to have a talk with his doctor.

Bourne missed most of the previous two seasons after being diagnosed with dermatomyositis, a chronic inflammatory muscle disease that puts him at greater risk of serious complications if he contracts COVID-19. So when the domestic tour announced it would be returning this weekend for the start of the AVP Champions Cup, Bourne paid special attention to the infection control measures.

It was definitely something that was on my mind, Bourne said in a telephone interview on Friday. Right from the get-go it definitely put my mind at ease to know how many precautions they were taking. Every email they sent to us, it was like a new protocol.

A native Hawaiian who was third in qualifying for one of the two U.S. spots for men at the Rio Olympics, Bourne then missed much of the next two years after being diagnosed. He and current partner Trevor Crabb finished tied for ninth at this seasons FIVB opener in Doha in March before the rest of the international tour was suspended.

We had to get back from Qatar before they shut down the border, Bourne said. This offseason is where I finally had the chance to get back to peak form, and then the season got canceled. I really didnt have a chance to put that on display yet. This AVP Champions Cup is really my first chance.

The AVP canceled what had been an eight-tournament season and replaced it with the Champions Cup -- three events on successive weekends in Long Beach, California, with qualifying matches starting Friday. Teams will play for $700,000 in purses, including a $100,000 bonus pool for the pairs that do the best over the series.

Among those entered in the womens brackets are the top two teams in the world: two-time Olympic medalist April Ross and her partner Alix Klineman, and Canadians Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes. Olympic champion Phil Dalhausser (2008) and his partner, Nick Lucena, are the top seed on the mens side, with three-time Olympian Jake Gibb and Taylor Crabb, Trevors brother, as the second seed.

AVP spokeswoman Megan Hanson said all of the athletes have passed the pre-tournament protocol, which included weekly testing since July 6. A confirmed positive test would take a player out of the tournament.

Although the competitors and staff will not be sealed inside a bubble-like environment, players will remain separated as teams in pods in a holding tent until it is time for their match. Their only contact with the opponent will be play at the net; balls will be sanitized after each point.

Sack lunches will replace the usual buffet-style catering.

We all miss live sports, AVP owner Donald Sun said. Our team has been working around the clock to build out this site and create a beach that our athletes can safely compete on with the smallest footprint possible and give fans the opportunity to cheer them on without having to risk a sunburn.

Bourne, who manages his illness with daily medications, weekly injections and monthly transfusions, said he liked that testing started before the tournament, so he knew the teams he was training against had tested negative.

It allows us to really focus on the game -- especially for me, he said. I get to have my mind at ease and just focus on playing.

Although beach volleyball is one of the most watched broadcasts from the Olympics, the sport prides itself on its in-person party atmosphere, with a DJ to fire up the crowd and dance teams entertaining fans between points.

To make up for the fan-free experience, the tour is planning to mic up the referees and coaches, with additional sound from the court that might not have been heard over the crowds. The tours hype man, Jeremy DJ Roueche, will be on-site.

It will for sure be different, especially when we first step out there, Bourne said with an audible sigh. But well adapt really quickly, and I dont think anyone will be using it as an excuse.

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Volleyball returns to the beach with AVP Champions Cup - Associated Press

HUNTINGTON BEACH (CBSLA) Two YouTubers went to Huntington Beach to hand out free masks to beachgoers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The video titled Solving the Mask Shortage in Huntington Beach has been viewed more than 2.3 million times.

Chad Kroeger and JT Parr started out the video saying, Guys, we have a cure for the mask shortage. They were holding a big sign that said Free Masks and a box of masks as they walked near the beach.

They got turned down by multiple people, who under Orange County guidelines, should be wearing face coverings at all times in public. One man also appeared to want to fight them and they responded, Were not trying to fight anyone. We just want to hand out masks.

It is interesting how people interpreted it as a personal judgment, Kroeger said.

Kroeger, who surfs and eats in Huntington Beach frequently, said he noticed many people werent wearing face coverings and thought one way to approach the issue would be to hand them out at no cost since his friend had a free supply.

Kroeger and Parr are behind the comedy YouTube channel, Chad Goes Deep, that posted the mask video. They admit being initially doubtful about the effectiveness of masks but took it more seriously after a friend who refused to wear one tested positive for coronavirus.

At this point, we dont want that to happen to anyone else, Kroeger said.

The pair said as soon as they get an additional supply of masks, theyre going to try to give them away in San Clemente.

RELATED: Orange County Reports 911 New Coronavirus Cases, 20 Additional Deaths

Orange County health officials reported 911 additional coronavirus cases and 20 new cases on Wednesday. To date, the countywide total is now at 27,031 cases and 455 deaths.

Several videos have shown confrontations over face masks in various parts of the country. In Los Angeles, a maskless Trader Joes shopper called people telling her to wear a mask Democratic pigs. A security guard who authorities say shot a man outside a Gardena store after they fought over him not wearing a mask was charged with murder. Elsewhere in Florida, a man was seen on video shouting in the store after reportedly being asked why he was not wearing a face covering, as required at all Costco locations.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends wearing clean cloth face coverings in public settings where other physical distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Many counties, including Los Angeles County and Orange County, have also issued their own guidelines requiring the use of masks in public.

The CDC on Tuesday affirmed that the latest research shows face coverings as a tool that can be used to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

We are not defenseless against COVID-19, said CDC Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield. Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus particularly when used universally within a community setting. All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.

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YouTubers Turned Down Trying To Hand Out Free Masks In Huntington Beach - CBS Los Angeles