Los Angeles County beaches will open next week, the mayors from two beach cities confirmed Friday, May 8, though county officials maintained they have yet to make a decision.
Manhattan Beach Mayor Richard Montgomery and Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand, both involved in the planning to reopen the coastline, said county beaches would open sometime next week.
“I can confirm that all South Bay beaches will be open next week,” Montgomery said Friday.
Long Beach and Hermosa Beach, which both own their beaches, would have to decide for themselves whether to open their shores. Officials for both cities, however, have said they will coordinate with the county.
But despite what Montgomery and Brand said, Los Angeles County public health officials said Friday that they will use this weekend to test whether people can obey loosened stay-at-home directives before deciding whether to lift some coastal restrictions next week.
That’s despite one beach cities official saying the relaxation will, indeed, occur next week.
“We are going to pay a lot of attention to how well we all do this weekend in terms of being able to comply with the directives,” Barbara Ferrer, director of Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health, said during the Friday, May, 8, coronavirus briefing.
If things go well, she added, officials might relax more rules next week.
“We know people are anxious to get out to the beaches,” Ferrer said. “We’re working really hard.”
On Friday, the county allowed some businesses to reopen for curbside pickup only, part of a phased approach as officials continue working to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
Like with those businesses, Ferrer said, beaches will open in phases “with as much safety as possible” and “with restrictions in mind.”
For now, though, beach parking lots, bike paths on the sand, beach restrooms, showers and access-ways remain closed, according to L.A. County’s Department of Beaches and Harbors.
But Montgomery said an announcement on the reopening will come Monday. The plan, he said was put together by South Bay mayors and city councils, the Department of Beaches and Harbors, county Supervisor Janice Hahn.
Montgomery had previously said he would have preferred to open beaches before May 15, the county’s original date to lift Safer at Home orders. But, he said, he does agree with the limited, gradual reopening of the beaches.
When the beaches initially reopen, folks will still not be allowed to gather in groups, sunbath or play volleyball.
Visitors cannot bring stationary items like umbrellas, chairs, pop up tents and ice chests, Montgomery said.
All of those things will likely be allowed under later phases of the reopening.
Water activities, such as swimming and surfing, will be allowed, though.
“I want to remind everyone that visits the beach,” Montgomery said, “that if we can’t follow the rules, especially for social distancing of 6 feet, the governor and/or health officer can close our beaches down.”
If the reopening announcement does come Monday, it would occur the same day Long Beach will allow folks to walk along the pedestrian and bike path the borders the sand.
Seal Beach, which is in Orange County but neighbors Long Beach, will open its coastline on Monday, meanwhile. That city’s beaches will reopen at sunrise Monday as a “beach in motion” for activities such as running, walking and surfing.
But people will not be able to pitch a tent or lay out towels to sunbathe and hang out.
Staff writers Susan Goulding, Tyler Shaun Evains and Lisa Jacobs contributed to this report.
"open" - Google News
May 09, 2020 at 07:29AM
https://ift.tt/2WhQEnO
Los Angeles County beaches could open as early as next week, officials say - The Daily Breeze
"open" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3bYShMr
https://ift.tt/3d2SYUY
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Los Angeles County beaches could open as early as next week, officials say - The Daily Breeze"
Post a Comment