Lee County has announced that all county-owned beaches will close. The order takes effect at 6 p.m. today, March 19, to limit spread the spread of the coronavirus known as COVID-19.

The closure includes the Fort Myers Beach Pier, beach parking lots, restrooms and county-owned beach access points.

The county sites include:

The county sites include:

Beach Parks

Bonita Beach Park

Bowditch Point Park

Bowman’s Beach Park

Causeway Islands

Crescent Beach Family Park

Little Hickory Island Beach Park

Lynn Hall Memorial Beach Park

Matanzas Pass Preserve

San Carlos/Bunche Beach Preserve

Turner Beach Park

Alison Hagerup Beach Park

Andy Rosse Lane paddlecraft launch

Boca Grande Beach Accesses

Bonita Beach Accesses

Dog Beach Park

Estero Island Beach Access

Matanzas Bridge Fishing Pier

County Manager Roger Desjarlais announced the closure using Centers For Disease Control guidance and at a time when many college-age students are on spring break or are in the area while taking online classes.

“While young people may not be as vulnerable to the symptoms of COVID-19 as older adults, they can be asymptomatic and spread the virus to others, including older adults and their own family members,” he said.

The county will coordinate enforcement with the appropriate enforcement agencies.

The county is also suspending LeeTran beach trolley and tram service effective 6 p.m. Thursday.

“The (county) beaches are closed,” said Lee County spokesperson Betsy Clayton.

For more information, visit www.leegov.com/covid-19 or for the locations of county-owned beaches, visit www.leegov.com/parks/beaches.