OCEANSIDE, Calif. — The city of Oceanside announced Friday early afternoon it was closing all public beaches effective midnight tonight.
This includes all water-based activities, including surfing. The Strand will also be closed for walking and driving except to residents living there in order to access their property. Oceanside beach parking lots are already closed.
Oceanside will join most of the county in shutting down its beaches, with most beaches in San Diego Count closing last week in an attempt to encourage social distancing and limit the spread of the coronavirus. Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, San Diego and Solana Beach closed their beaches, trails and parks March 23, while Imperial Beach and the Port of San Diego announced similar closures March 24.
Coronado's beaches were the last to completely close, despite calls for their closure from Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, and Union-Tribune op-ed columnists. Then, Coronado's mayor, Richard Bailey, announced Friday evening that Coronado, too, would close.
For nearly the past two weeks the Coronado beach has been shutdown to all activities with the exception of walking, running, and exercising.
"Although the vast majority of residents were adhering to social distancing guidelines, in anticipation of further activity restrictions by the state of California and County of San Diego, and in an effort to reduce potential exposure to our public safety personnel as well as the community at large, the Coronado beaches will be closed tonight at midnight," said Bailey.
San Diego County health officials amended public health orders Thursday, shutting down park and beach parking lots, effective Friday at midnight.
"Closing our beaches is not enjoyable, but that isn't the point. The point is to protect public health and combat #COVID19," Atkins said in a statement on Twitter. "I strongly support the @sdutIdeas appeal for a full closure of beaches and implore Coronado to do so. This is a temporary sacrifice that will save lives."
BACKGROUND:
According to the CDC, coronavirus (COVID-19) is a family of viruses that is spreadable from person to person. Coronavirus is believed to have been first detected in a seafood market in Wuhan, China in December 2019. If someone is sick with coronavirus, the symptoms they may show include mild to severe respiratory illness, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Currently, there is no vaccine, however, the CDC suggests the following precautions, along with any other respiratory illness:
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.