A light at the end of the tunnel....Phase 1 of Re-Opening our community

St. Johns County, FL – In consideration of Governor DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-112 outlining
Florida’s plan for recovery, St. Johns County is launching a phased reopening approach in
collaboration with the City of St. Augustine, the City of St. Augustine Beach, and local health care
and law enforcement agencies.

“When this pandemic began, no one knew how our community would be impacted. We understood
the importance of being measured in every decision we made, ranging from closures to opening
strategies. As a coastal community, the status of our beaches has been a significant topic of
discussion, and just like the approach Governor DeSantis outlined yesterday, we want to be
measured in our phasing,” said Hunter S. Conrad, St. Johns County Administrator. “Our
community has done a phenomenal job in voluntary compliance of the Governor’s Orders, and as
a result, this allows us to lift additional restrictions on the beach. We want to encourage residents
to enjoy their beaches and continue using that same personal responsibility that has allowed us to
flatten the curve locally.”

The health, safety, and welfare of St. Johns County residents remain the top priorities in the
development and implementation of the reopening strategy. Phase One of St. Johns County’s
reopening includes:

 Beaches - Beginning Monday, May 4, all restrictions previously in place on St. Johns
County beaches are rescinded. On-beach driving remains prohibited and CDC guidelines
and social distancing restrictions remain in place.
 Libraries - The St. Johns County Library System is offering curbside service at all branches
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for patrons who place items
on hold by calling a library or through the Library’s website. Library buildings remain
closed to the public. For more information on curbside service, visit
www.sjcpls.org/curbside-service/ or call your branch library.
 Recreational Facilities - All recreational facilities, including recreation centers, pools,
pavilions, etc., remain closed and unavailable for reservations or rentals.
 Recreational Programing - All recreational programing, including open play, camps, and
league activities, remain suspended.
 SJC Ocean and Fishing Pier - Beginning Monday, May 4, the St. Johns County Ocean and Fishing Pier is open to the public with no access fee. All other facilities, including the Pier
Gift Shop and pavilion, remain closed to the public and unavailable for reservations,
rentals, or events, including farmers markets. 
 Pet Center - While St. Johns County Animal Control Services continues to remain active
and is responding to calls from the community, the St. Johns County Pet Center remains
closed to the public.
 St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall - All activities and events at theSt. Augustine Amphitheatre and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, including farmers markets,
remain suspended.
 Distancing and Industry Guidelines - It is recommended that the public continue to adhere to the CDC social distancing guidelines of limiting gatherings to no more than 10 persons
and maintaining a minimum distance of six feet between parties. Guidelines regarding
restaurant, retail, and other business operations can be found at www.sjcfl.us/coronavirus.
 The St. Johns County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) - The EOC remains open at a Level Two partial activation. Beginning Monday, May 4, the EOC Hotline will be open
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Local State of Emergency remains in
effect.

For more information regarding Phase One of the reopening procedures, call the EOC Citizen
Information Hotline at 904.824.5550.