A Tory Cabinet minister today said there is “clearly an increased risk” of people who packed Bournemouth Beach catching coronavirus.
But George Eustice said the government is "very reluctant" to shut beaches - saying it would only happen if absolutely necessary.
And the Environment Secretary said he believed the hordes of people would reduce once this week's hot weather begins to cool down.
It comes after shocking scenes of a heaving Bournemouth Beach prompted Dorset authorities to declare a major incident on Thursday.
Thousands travelled to the coast and packed out the beach, flouting social distancing guidelines as they squeezed together in the 33C temperatures.
The Police Federation has warned more chaos could be yet to come as lockdown is eased next Saturday - with pubs, hairdressers and cafes opening in England.
Yet Mr Eustice, who took his family to Bournemouth Beach himself a few weeks ago when it was quieter, insisted the scenes were simply down to hot weather.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think what happened yesterday wasn’t so much linked to the announcements we’ve made about the further easements to come on July 4.
“I think it was much more simply the case that it was an incredibly hot day and lots of people had the same idea to head to the beach.
“Clearly the pictures we saw at places like Bournemouth are absolutely a matter for concern. The British matter being what it is, perhaps this will be a short-lived phenomenon.
“But as Matt Hancock’s made clear, we do have the powers if necessary to go back in and act. We don’t want to do that. We’d be very reluctant to do so.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty issued warnings last night after the heaving beach scenes prompted alarm.
Mr Hancock said beaches would be closed if needed.
But Mr Eustice resisted closing beaches immediately, despite saying there is “clearly an increased risk” for people catching the virus if they packed too closely.
He told BBC Breakfast: “I’ve seen the pictures of Bournemouth and yes, obviously, looking at the crowds of people there, there’s clearly an increased risk when you have such large numbers of people.
“The scientific advice is in outdoor environments the risk of transmission is much lower, but even in an outdoor environment if you’re within two metres of somebody else for a period of 15 minutes or more there is some risk.”
Mr Eustice echoed warnings that beaches could be closed - or even the opening of pubs and restaurants from July 4 reversed - if rules are broken.
He said the next stage of opening restaurants and pubs “would be the most difficult, and we’d only be able to do that and keep the virus under control if people observe social distancing.”
And he warned there was a "quid pro quo" where they would only reopen if the public follow distancing rules.
Asked if beaches could be shut, he said: “We do have powers to put in place closures should that be necessary but we don’t really want to go to that.
“If it were necessary to do that to control the virus then of course we would. And Matt Hancock made that clear yesterday.”
But he also suggested beaches would only shut if they were rammed "day after day after day" - and claimed things “will return to normal” after the “abnormally” large crowds on a hot day.
The minister added: "We just have to recognise yesterday was the hottest day of the year, incredibly hot, a lot of people had the same idea, they all went to the beach, and yes of course those scenes at Bournemouth are a matter for concern.
"The British weather being what it is maybe that will be short lived and people will return to the type of social distancing they've actually demonstrated quite well."
The overcrowded beaches caused chaos along England's coastline - despite authorities pleas to stay away as the UK's official coronavirus death toll tops 43,000.
Downing Street reminded the public that if breaching of social distancing goes on, the lockdown could be ramped up again.
Asked about the beach scenes at Thursday lunchtime, Boris Johnson's official spokesman said: “It's not for me to pass comment on particular photographs.
"What I would say is that the PM and the government's scientific and medical advisers have stressed the great importance of the public continuing to adhere to social distancing advice.
"It's only because of the public's hard work that we've been able to bring the virus under control.
“If the rules don’t continue to be followed and the virus starts to spread exponentially again, then we will look at having to reverse some of the easements that we’ve put into place.
"And I don't think anyone in the British public would want for that to happen."
