Los Angeles is closing its beaches over the holiday weekend around Independence Day as the number of new coronavirus cases increases, county officials said Monday.
The beaches will be closed for all recreational activities from July 3 to July 6 at 5 a.m. to avoid crowding that could spread the coronavirus.
The county also bans the display of fireworks over the holiday weekend, authorities said.
“Closing the beaches and banning fireworks during this important summer vacation weekend was an incredibly difficult decision to make, but it is the responsible decision to protect public health and protect our residents from a deadly virus,” said Barbara Ferrer, director of public health. in the ad
“The Fourth of July holiday weekend generally means large crowds and gatherings to celebrate, a recipe for further COVID-19 broadcast,” he added.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced more than 2,900 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, the highest one-day case count since the start of the pandemic. The health department said its projections show a marked increase in hospitalizations in the coming weeks, which could cause an increase in its health care system.
“We must all take this virus more seriously, and residents and business owners must do their part. Physical distancing is not optional, wearing a face covering is not optional, spending time alone with the people you live with is not optional – these are requirements in the Health Officer Order and are the tools we have to protect each other, our families and the most vulnerable in our communities, “said Ferrer.
The county will close all public beaches, piers, parking lots, and beach bike trails that traverse the sanded portion of the beach.
The county said its order does not apply to Long Beach, which has its own health department, at this time. Long Beach released a statement shortly after confirming it will close the city’s beaches in alignment with Los Angeles County.
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