Photos of packed beaches, bikeways, and hiking trails show how people are ignoring coronavirus social distancing mandates around the world

Melissa Wiley

24 March 2020 11:15 PM

Steve Nesius/Reuters

Locals and spring breakers flock to Clearwater Beach in Florida. While some counties like Miami-Dade and Broward have closed down beaches to curb the spread of the coronavirus, others remain open. Florida has not yet issued a state-wide stay-at-home order.

As the coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, affected countries and cities are imposing sweeping measures to limit public gatherings and encourage social distancing.
Despite recommendations to shelter in place and limit non-essential travel, people are the world are flocking to parks, beaches, and popular hiking trails, prompting stricter regulations.
On March 16, President Trump said that Americans should avoid gathering in groups of 10 or more people to help curb the spread of the virus.
Other countries, like Italy, France, and Greece, have issued nationwide lockdowns .
On March 19, California became the first state to issue a stay-at-home order , encouraging residents to avoid all non-essential travel and stay at least six feet away from others if out in public. Other states, including New York and Illinois, have followed suit.
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