SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — Amid the growing response to the coronavirus, leaders and officials of this coastal city are taking action.
Monday afternoon, the City of South Padre Island issued a local state of disaster for public health emergency due to the COVID-19.
As a result, starting Monday at 7 p.m., all special events permits will be rescinded and any special event equipment must be removed within 24 hours.
Any activity after the 7 p.m. deadline will be in direct violation of city orders.
According to the city’s press release, beachgoers are discouraged from gathering in large crowds and should follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The following city facilities will be closed to the public — community center, visitor center, multi-modal lobby and the convention centre.
The Island Metro will continue operations that serve the communities of the Island, Port Isabel and Laguna Heights.
According to the press release, all buses have increased their cleaning protocols to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Sunday afternoon, SPI officials debunked a coronavirus-related post that has been circulating on social media.
The false post claimed a Dallas student celebrating Spring Break at Louie’s Backyard on the Island collapsed and was quarantined after being airlifted to a nearby hospital.
It also claims the spring breaker exhibited signs of COVID-19.
“The City has confirmed this to be false and there are no reports of COVID-19 on South Padre Island or the Rio Grande Valley,” the city’s press release stated. “The news link at the bottom left corner of the snapshot will direct you to a fake new generate webpage that will allow you to create fake stories.”
