Sorry spring breakers, Georgia beaches are closed

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. — Dreams of social distancing on a Georgia beach ended Friday when officials started closing them due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Tybee Island Mayor Shirley Sessions signed an emergency directive that closed Tybee Island beaches and parking lots and banned public consumption of alcohol citywide. The ban started at 9 a.m. Friday.

The order also asks the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the state Department of Transportation to start restricting traffic on Highway 80, the only road to the island.

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About 90 miles south of Tybee Island, similar measures went into effect in Georgia’s Golden Isles.

All beaches in Glynn County, including St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island and the Sea Island Beach Club are closed to the public starting Saturday at 6 a.m. until Monday, April 13.

There are currently no travel restrictions, but visitors are encouraged to reach out to hotels, resorts and vacation rentals to check on their reservation.

The Golden Isles Convention & Visitors bureau opened a website during the COVID-19 outbreak that you can access here.

The mayor of nearby Hilton Head Island, SC also decided to close beaches and beach parking lots as well.

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