In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Sarasota County Government has closed county beaches to the public, effective 6 a.m. Saturday morning, March 21. The order does not effect privately owned beachfront, county administrator Jonathan Lewis said. 

“We will continue to have staff out there to keep an eye on things, in addition to the Sheriff’s department and its team," Lewis said in a press conference Thursday afternoon. "It’s important that we maintain the public health in terms of sanitary conditions as well, so we’ll have appropriate staff out there to take care of those issues."

Manatee County beaches also closed to the public effective 6 a.m. Friday, March 20; like Sarasota County, lifeguards will be on duty and police officers and signage will help enforce closures.