The General Land Office will allow Corpus Christi and Nueces Co. officials to restrict vehicle traffic on beaches for the next two weeks in an effort to slow COVID-19 spread locally.
The order, announced during Wednesday's daily city-county joint news briefing, echoes the Fourth of July order, and goes into effect Thursday and ends Aug. 1.
A curfew, set from 8:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., also will be in effect on all Nueces Co. beaches.
Only pedestrian traffic will be allowed on county beaches, and vehicles -- including golf carts and all-terrain vehicles -- will be cited if found on the beach.
Local officials said those looking to visit beaches on foot will have access to nearby parking, including the main one on Windward.
"With (500) and 600 cases a day it’s just, we have to do more than what we’ve been doing," said City Manager Peter Zanoni.
Zanoni states the two bay beaches, McGee and North Beach, will also have restrictions.
"No sitting with chairs, no tents, no laying," he said. "You have to be active if you’re on those two beaches, North Beach and McGee Beach."
It also was announced that the city's eight regional parks, and city pools also will be closed until Aug. 1
Zanoni said closing these recreational areas will help lower the number of COVID-19 cases.
"The staff were telling me today that some of our pools right now have 100 children, and that’s at 50% capacity."
When asked about the Padre Island National Seashore, Zanoni said a request was made but since the national park is under federal rule, the request is currently pending.