Port Aransas shuts down beach until April 9 to help slow spread of COVID-19

Port Aransas Beach has temporarily closed and is only open for exercising activities, city officials said.

After Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales issued a “Stay at Home” order for the county, Port Aransas Mayor Charles Bujan provided restrictions for the city’s beach, prohibiting all from socializing, sitting, camping, tailgating and fishing from March 26 until April 8.

There will be a $1,000 fine for those who do not comply with the rules, according to signs that were placed along the beach by city officials. Running, walking, watersports and stretching are allowed as long as all are done 6 feet apart from each other.

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Stephanie Montgomery, city of Port Aransas executive administrative assistant, said the closure and restrictions do not apply to other Nueces County beaches as all have their own guidelines and rules. All Nueces County beaches, however, have an 8 p.m. curfew.

The restrictions for Port Aransas are “stricter” and “stronger” than most because the beach has a large number of tourists, Montgomery said.

“We are trying to do our best by protecting our citizens from contracting this horrible virus, so strict rules have been put in place to help with this,” she said.

Visit portaransas.org for more information.

Priscilla Aguirre is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | [email protected] | @CillaAguirre