NUECES COUNTY, Texas — Nueces County leaders announced Tuesday afternoon that a curfew for all county beaches will go into affect Wednesday.
The beach will close to the vehicular traffic at all times, and to people on foot every day from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The curfew will run from now until July 11.
“I do believe the crown jewel of Texas will remain open to those who use it properly,” Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales said.
For the holiday weekend: Beach access roads will also be restricted to vehicles, golf carts and all-terrain vehicles from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. July 7. People can walk to city and county beaches on foot.
Meanwhile, Bob Hall Pier will remain open for the holiday weekend, as well as Padre Balli Park and IB Magee RV Park (in Port Aransas). Vehicles will not be able to leave.
The closure is similar to to what the county imparted over Easter weekend. The county did not close beaches over Memorial Day weekend, and there is concern that large gatherings there at that time allowed COVID-19 to spread.
“We made a grave error and somehow our behavior completely changed," Canales said. "And when we changed our behavior this is the consequence -- tremendous community spread -- so much so that contract tracing is almost pointless.”
Nueces County's eight regional parks will also be closed from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Tuesday. Those parks include Bill Witt, West Guth, Lake View, Parker, Labonte, Salinas, Water's Edge and Cole Park. Sunrise Beach RV Park in Mathis will also be closed.