The heat wave attracted thousands to Newport beach over the weekend. Now, officials are considering closing them.
Ventura and Orange county beaches were open over the weekend, and the coronavirus didn’t deter anyone from the opportunity to soak up some SoCal sun. As the temperatures reached the mid-90s on Saturday, huge crowds descended upon Huntington and Newport Beach.
All parking lots, restaurants, bathrooms, and piers remained closed and visitors were expected to comply with social distancing guidelines. Additionally, sitting on the sand was not permitted. However, those measures not strongly enforced, according to the Times.
As a result, The Newport Beach City Council is considering closing the beaches for the next three weekends in May and increasing measures to block roads leading to popular beaches. The council will meet on Tuesday to discuss the matter further.
ABC helicopter reporters posted aerial shots of Newport and Huntington filled with people on Saturday.
RIGHT NOW: This is the scene from #Air7HD in Newport Beach, CA as the #COVID19 death toll surges in Southern California @ABC7 #LosAngeles pic.twitter.com/Nmta8hU69H
— Chris Cristi (@abc7chriscristi) April 24, 2020
Newport Beach appears to be pretty crowded, as Southern California is hit by a heat wave. https://t.co/abDlBmkZo0 pic.twitter.com/1DDSjvPhT5
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) April 25, 2020
While Hunting Beach police reported that the majority of beachgoers complied with social distancing rules, viral photos have sparked an ongoing debate about the safety implications of open beaches.
Meanwhile, beaches in L.A. remained closed and largely abandoned, as shown by LAPD Chief Moore posted a view of L.A. beaches on Saturday.
My compliments to our community for staying away from the beaches in LA. From Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, to Dockweiler – All Clear!! Safer at Home will get us there sooner. pic.twitter.com/wZeJ8G8pDR
— Chief Michel Moore (@LAPDChiefMoore) April 25, 2020
On Sunday, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted “We won’t let one weekend undo a month of progress.” “While the sunshine is tempting, we’re staying home to save lives, ” he added.
Featured image: u/scared-of-girls