4th of July 2020: LA County beaches to close over holiday weekend, officials say
Beaches, piers and bike paths will be closed in Los Angeles County for the July 4 weekend, officials said Monday.
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Beaches, piers and bike paths will be closed in Los Angeles County for the July 4 weekend, officials said Monday.
The County Board of Supervisors decided to close beaches, piers, beach bike paths and beach access points from Friday, July 3 through Monday, July 6.
"Due to rising #COVID19 cases all @CountyofLA beaches will be closing again temporarily this weekend, July 3rd through 6th," county Supervisor Janice Hahn tweeted.
"We had almost 3,000 reported cases just today. We cannot risk having crowds at the beach this holiday weekend."
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The decision comes as California sees a surge in coronavirus cases, believed to be linked to the reopening of businesses and recreational activities in recent weeks. A number of counties across California, including Los Angeles, are on a state monitoring list as cases surge.
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"It is time for us to have a collective course correction, to make sure all of the work that we've done -- the days and the weeks and the months -- of contributing to saving lives was not for nothing," Mayor Eric Garcetti said Monday.
The move received mixed reaction from beachgoers in Manhattan Beach on Tuesday morning.
"It's confusing, really. But, as far as containing to come to the beach, I will," said Santa Monica resident Van Brown.
Some supported the beach closures.
"I think everyone should do everything they can to stop the spreading," Katie Everds said. "It must be getting bad if they're taking that extreme of a measure."
The decision was disclosed by the Lost Hills station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, which is responsible for patrolling beaches in the Malibu area.
The sheriff's station said violating the closure amounts to trespassing, punishable by fines up to $1,000.
"The LASD will enforce parking closures and traffic on Pacific Coast Highway during the holiday weekend for areas that fall within our jurisdiction. As we have done since the beginning of the pandemic, we will continue seeking voluntary compliance and educating the public," the sheriff's department said in a written statement.
