California Governor to Close Beaches, Parks Again
In an unprecedented but not-so-unexpected move, California Governor Gavin Newsom will announce the closure of the state's beaches and parks on Thursday, according to a document obtained by FOXLA, Newsweek has reported.
Beaches in Southern California were packed with people over the weekend. Many of those individuals did not adhere to the state and White House's social distancing guidelines. At a Monday press conference, Newsom warned beachgoers that the "virus doesn't go home because it's a beautiful, sunny day around our coasts."
FOX LA journalist Bill Melugin on Wednesday night posted a bulletin that will reportedly inform California police chiefs of Newsom's upcoming announcement to close all beaches and parks from Friday. Melugin says the bulletin will be sent out today.
"After the well-publicized media coverage of overcrowded beaches this past weekend, in violation of Governor Newsom's Shelter in Place Order, the Governor will be announcing tomorrow that ALL beaches and all state parks in California will be closed, effective Friday, May 1st," the document read.
BREAKING: A source has provided me with this bulletin that will be sent out to all California police chiefs notifying them that tomorrow, Governor Newsom will announce the closure of ALL beaches and state parks effective May 1st in response to recent beach crowds in OC . @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/RG53HhmySf
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) April 30, 2020
Parking lots at California's state parks have been closed since March although some parks are accessible via other means, such as walking or biking. According to the California Parks and Recreation Department website, if people are found to be violating social distancing guidelines, they are being asked to leave.
Some counties in California's Bay Area have already announced modifications to the current statewide stay-at-home order, allowing some types of outdoor activities to resume on Monday. However, the overall order for those counties has been extended to the end of May.
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties have all chosen to push out the expiration date of their stay-at-home orders, as has the City of Berkeley. "All construction activities, certain businesses that operate primarily outdoors, and some outdoor activities will be allowed to resume with specific conditions," public health officials in the Bay Area said.
