Rejoice! 

The Florida Department of Health-Sarasota lifted its red tide health advisory on Thursday for all 16 Sarasota County beaches. That means we finally get our first red-tide-free weekend since Dec. 28, 2022, when the county first put out its red tide advisory. 

Now, this doesn't mean that the red tide is gone. In fact, it's always there. But until conditions change, we should have a pleasant time enjoying the beach—our most precious resource. 

We also shouldn't let our guard down either and forget about this problem. Red tide is getting worse and shows no signs of abating. But for now, we can take it easy and enjoy the water.