latimes--2020-04-26--After #FloridaMorons, Californians also crowd beaches

When Florida residents were allowed to start going to the beach again last weekend , photos of the crowds went viral along with the hashtag # FloridaMorons .
This weekend , amid the year ’ s first heat wave , thousands converged on some California beaches to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and to get a break from weeks of isolation at home .
There was some debate about the size of the crowds and the degree to which those who went to the beach were able to maintain social distance .
But images from places including Huntington Beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether allowing the beaches to reopen could set back California ’ s progress on slowing the spread of coronavirus .
It also is testing the exhortations of health officials , who urge staying at home as the best path to flattening the coronavirus curve and restarting the economy .
California was the first state in the nation to adopt a stay-at-home order , and experts say that swift action has prevented a greater death toll , like those of New York and New Jersey .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom urged residents to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressing fear it could cause more people to get sick .
Some communities , including Los Angeles County and many parts of the Bay Area , have kept beaches closed .
On Saturday , L.A. beaches remained largely empty .
“ My compliments to our community for staying away from the beaches in LA , ” Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Saturday on Twitter .
“ From Malibu , Santa Monica , Venice , to Dockweiler - All Clear !
!
” “ We won ’ t let one weekend undo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted Sunday .
“ While the sunshine is tempting , we ’ re staying home to save lives.
” Dr. William Schaffner , professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University , sees no absolute rule of thumb in terms of the right time to open beaches .
He ’ s more concerned with how it is done .
“ Reopening , like beauty , is in the eye of the beholder , ” Schaffner said .
“ We have to be clear here .
We have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home and outlast the coronavirus until we get an effective vaccine.
” Getting to the beach may be more problematic than how people behave on the beach , he said .
“ I know that on the East Coast some of the difficulties they ’ ve had is not the beach itself so much , ” he said .
“ It ’ s the parking lots where things get very crowded and there is a tendency for friends to gather and talk .
And , of course , you violate the six-foot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have cracked down on those who violate the rules .
Last week in San Mateo County , officials ordered 275 people off Linda Mar Beach and threatened arrests and citations if people continued to violate the order .
Polls have found wide support for the stay-at-home order among Californians .
Among those polled for a recent California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey , 75 % wanted the order to continue as long as needed .
Only 11 % wanted to stop the stay-at-home order , while 13 % had no opinion .
L.A. County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the “ unprecedented ” efforts to keep people inside and away from others were working , leading to a manageable growth in coronavirus cases .
“ But just as we absolutely can ’ t stop taking a course of antibiotics just because we feel better , where this virus is concerned , we really have to keep doing the right things , ” she said .
“ Cases are still on the rise , and this was California ’ s deadliest week since the start of this pandemic.
” Yet amid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many .
Authorities kept a number of beach parking lots closed and were out in force trying to impose social-distancing rules .
One sunbather from the San Fernando Valley , who declined to give her name , said she drove to Ventura County to do what Southern Californians often do when the mercury rises .
“ It ’ s hot , ” the Canoga Park resident said .
“ It ’ s the go-to thing to do if you live in California.
” Although few people — including the lifeguard and police officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules , reminded to stay six feet apart by a flashing road sign outside Santa Buenaventura State Beach .
At the north end of the beach , several dozen surfers fought their way atop 3- to 4-foot swells .
By midafternoon , with the beach largely emptied , Robin Hoag and Paige Leichtnam made their way over from their nearby home .
They have been hiking county trails and riding their bikes to work since their favorite beach was closed last month , but they waited for the visitors from L.A. County , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave before coming back Saturday to play paddle ball .
“ It ’ s pretty laid-back now , ” Hoag said .
“ People will go wherever it ’ s open.
” Ashley Bautista , public information officer for Ventura County , said there was a law enforcement presence at all of the county ’ s beaches , and officers were informing visitors that they were only supposed to walk , run , swim or surf .
Beachgoers were complying , and beaches were not packed , she said .
“ We appreciate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sacrifices , ” she said , “ and that local law enforcement is focused on education for compliance.
” In Orange County , a chilly breeze and cloudy skies didn ’ t deter hundreds of families , friends and couples from descending on Huntington Beach early Sunday .
Couples lay on beach towels watching dozens of surfers ride the waves as others played on the beach .
A mother kept watch over young boys digging holes with a shovel near the shore , while several teenagers flopped on boogie boards .
Most people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many donned hats , sunglasses and umbrellas but few wore protective masks .
Eva Sanchez , in a red polka dot swimsuit , sat on a beach towel looking out at the ocean with husband Jorge , 21 , and their 7-month-old baby Mateo .
They kept their distance from other beachgoers .
“ I wanted to get out of the house for a little bit , bring [ Mateo ] to the beach because I bought him his clothes , ” said Sanchez , 20 , laughing .
The Azusa resident wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus .
She and her family were well stocked with hand sanitizer and were avoiding touching things unnecessarily .
“ I believe I ’ m taking my precautions , practicing social distancing , constantly washing our hands , ” she said .
“ So I ’ m not that scared.
” Asked if she was concerned about others not abiding by social distancing orders , she said : “ As long as it doesn ’ t interfere with me , I feel like that ’ s completely up to them and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Police Department , said no one was cited for violating social-distancing guidelines Saturday .
Christopher Sumners , 31 , drove to Huntington Beach from Corona on Sunday morning with several friends to relax and enjoy a day in the sun , he said , looking up at the cloudy skies .
“ And freedom , also , ” he said laughing , echoing his friend ’ s remark .
He and five friends lay on several beach towels and chatted , unconcerned by the threat of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better chances of winning the lottery or getting hit by a car than getting coronavirus , ” said Sumners .
“ Wash your hands like you were taught when you were a child and I think you ’ re fine , ” he said , adding that as long as people aren ’ t in enclosed crowded spaces , the chances of contracting the virus are slim .
Still , he believes the severity of the virus “ was blown out of proportion from the beginning.
” “ Whatever is going to happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think it ’ s going to escalate any more than it already has , ” he said .
“ I mean , if you ’ re elderly or have prior health conditions I think you should stay inside , you should take the precautions , but if not , then I can ’ t see anybody stop living their lives for it.
” Sebastian Alcaraz was preparing in Newport Beach on Friday afternoon , as he has continued to do during the pandemic .
The 17-year-old from Long Beach said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January and lost his senses of taste and smell .
He now believes he was infected with the coronavirus .
Alcaraz ’ s friend , Natalie Peart of Huntington Beach , 23 , said she felt safe going to the beach .
“ We ’ re in California ; we ’ re the most chill people , ” Peart said .
“ Everyone ’ s social .
Nobody wants to give that up , you know ?
… People are going out because we ’ ve been quarantined for a month , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants to be inside.
” Heather Rangel , press information officer for the Newport Beach Police Department , said Saturday that there had been no arrests or citations related to the stay-at-home orders .
Orange County health officials on Sunday reported 105 additional cases of the coronavirus and one new death for a total of 2,074 cases and 39 deaths .
Beaches have been a point of political debate in the coronavirus crisis .
Some surfers and others say they don ’ t see the danger of being allowed back in the water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials and in online polls .
“ There is no logical or defensible reason to disallow access to the ocean , provided we maintain responsible spacing , which is essentially guaranteed by Mother Nature , ” wrote Andrew Mactavish , one of more than 4,100 people to sign a Change.org petition to reopen Manhattan Beach .
“ This is a ridiculous publicity stunt on the part of paranoid and apparently ignorant public officials.
” Justis Brown , another petition signatory , added : “ Surfing is not a crime.
” Many of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s wealthiest communities proposed allowing locals , alone , to have access to the shore .
Terry Tamminen , who was Gov .
Arnold Schwarzenegger ’ s secretary for environmental protection when the state was preparing for the bird flu epidemic , cautioned against reopening beaches before health officials “ understand fully the extent of the infections and have adequately prepared hospital infrastructure for any future ‘ waves.
’ ” “ It seems like SoCal has managed much better than NYC or other places whose systems and health workers were totally overwhelmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can conclude that our infrastructure is in decent shape for whatever is next , ” he said in an email .
“ But giving first responders a chance to catch their breath ( literally and figuratively ) is equally essential — so reopening places where the disease could spread again before we get a meaningful ‘ break ’ wouldn ’ t be the best idea.
” It remains unclear when the state will ease the stay-at-home rules , which closed all but essential businesses and limited trips to such tasks as shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not cover beaches , so it is up to local authorities to determine when they can open .
Schaffner , the infectious disease specialist , said that as beaches open , what ’ s important is that people are given clear and detailed guidelines for how to behave .
“ You ought to have some subsidiary instructions , ” he said .
“ Don ’ t mingle in the parking lots .
Do you have to wear the mask when you ’ re on the beach ?
” He said that it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people know what activities are and aren ’ t allowed .
“ You have to get down to the grains of sand and tell people what they ’ re expected to do , ” he said .
The coronavirus crisis has not hit all of California equally .
The virus has slammed Los Angeles County and Silicon Valley harder than some rural areas .
On Sunday , L.A. County reported 18 additional COVID-19 deaths and 440 new cases of the coronavirus .
Long Beach , which has its own health department , reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bringing the county ’ s total to 915 deaths and 19,538 cases .
The number of deaths in L.A. County doubled over the last week to nearly 900 .
That has prompted health officials to urge residents to stay home whenever possible .
“ We have high rates of illness and a lot of people in our county who are dying .
We know it ’ s best right now for us Angelenos to stay home , or stay outside [ in ] your own yard or your own neighborhood , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said last week .
Meanwhile , an autopsy report obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle has shed new light on the earliest U.S. death attributed to COVID-19 .
Patricia Dowd , 57 , of San Jose , died Feb. 6 after suffering flu-like symptoms .
An autopsy revealed that she suffered a heart attack that caused her heart to rupture , and signs of infection were also found in her trachea , lungs and intestines , according to the Chronicle .
Dowd ’ s death was not confirmed to be related to COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County officials told her family that she had tested positive .
County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said the Feb. 6 death and two others in the county found to be linked to COVID-19 — one Feb. 17 and another March 6 — were evidence that the coronavirus arrived in the Bay Area far earlier than expected and spread .
Previously , the first documented fatality was outside Seattle on Feb. 29 .
“ As the Medical Examiner-Coroner continues to carefully investigate deaths throughout the county , we anticipate additional deaths from COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement .
Amid the shifting timeline of the virus ’ spread , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said last week that most of the six milestones he set to consider loosening the stay-home order he issued last month had not been met .
The only change the governor has made is to to again be scheduled in hospitals , citing sufficient capacity .
“ It will be those indicators that drive our decision-making , ” he said Thursday .
“ Not dates .
We don ’ t debate dates .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six milestones include the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases ; prevent infection of high-risk people ; prepare hospitals to handle surges ; develop therapies to meet demand ; ensure schools , businesses and child-care facilities can support social distancing ; and develop guidelines for when to ask Californians to stay home again if necessary .
On Friday , Newsom said , “ We will consider local conditions ” when deciding when to ease the rules .
“ We will consider those things not only from the perspective of the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the perspective of the number of deaths and trend lines , but also in terms of our broader capacity .
”

Alex Wigglesworth, Dorany Pineda, Doug Smith, Kevin Baxter

In Huntington Beach, thousands of beachgoers seek relief from the heat on the shoreline April 25.
When Florida residents were allowed to start going to the beach again last weekend, photos of the crowds went viral along with the hashtag #FloridaMorons.
This weekend, amid the year’s first heat wave, thousands converged on some California beaches to take advantage of the cooler temperatures and to get a break from weeks of isolation at home.
There was some debate about the size of the crowds and the degree to which those who went to the beach were able to maintain social distance.
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But images from places including Huntington Beach also went viral and raised questions about whether allowing the beaches to reopen could set back California’s progress in slowing the spread of coronavirus. It also is testing the exhortations of health officials, who urge staying at home as the best path to flattening the coronavirus curve and restarting the economy.
California was the first state in the nation to adopt a stay-at-home order, and experts say that swift action has prevented a greater death toll, like those of New York and New Jersey. Gov. Gavin Newsom urged residents to avoid beaches and other public gathering places, expressing fear it could cause more people to get sick.
Some communities, including Los Angeles County and many parts of the Bay Area, have kept beaches closed. On Saturday, L.A. beaches remained largely empty.
“My compliments to our community for staying away from the beaches in LA,” Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Saturday on Twitter. “From Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, to Dockweiler - All Clear!!”
“We won’t let one weekend undo a month of progress,” L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted Sunday. “While the sunshine is tempting, we’re staying home to save lives.”
We won’t let one weekend undo a month of progress.
While the sunshine is tempting, we’re staying home to save lives.
The places we love — our beaches, hiking trails — will still be there when this is over.
And by staying home, we’re making sure our loved ones will be too. — MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) April 26, 2020
Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University, sees no absolute rule of thumb in terms of the right time to open beaches. He’s more concerned with how it is done.
“Reopening, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder,” Schaffner said. “We have to be clear here. We have to reopen. We can’t stay at home and outlast the coronavirus until we get an effective vaccine.”
Getting to the beach may be more problematic than how people behave on the beach, he said.
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“I know that on the East Coast some of the difficulties they’ve had is not the beach itself so much,” he said. “It’s the parking lots where things get very crowded and there is a tendency for friends to gather and talk. And, of course, you violate the six-foot rule.”
Communities in the Bay Area have cracked down on those who violate the rules. Last week in San Mateo County, officials ordered 275 people off Linda Mar Beach and threatened arrests and citations if people continued to violate the order.
Polls have found wide support for the stay-at-home order among Californians. Among those polled for a recent California Health Care Foundation/Ipsos survey, 75% wanted the order to continue as long as needed. Only 11% wanted to stop the stay-at-home order, while 13% had no opinion.
L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said in a statement that the “unprecedented” efforts to keep people inside and away from others were working, leading to a manageable growth in coronavirus cases.
“But just as we absolutely can’t stop taking a course of antibiotics just because we feel better, where this virus is concerned, we really have to keep doing the right things,” she said. “Cases are still on the rise, and this was California’s deadliest week since the start of this pandemic.”
Yet amid the heat wave, the ocean beckoned to many. Authorities kept a number of beach parking lots closed and were out in force trying to impose social-distancing rules.
One sunbather from the San Fernando Valley, who declined to give her name, said she drove to Ventura County to do what Southern Californians often do when the mercury rises.
“It’s hot,” the Canoga Park resident said. “It’s the go-to thing to do if you live in California.”
Although few people — including the lifeguard and police officers — wore masks, most observed social-distancing rules, reminded to stay six feet apart by a flashing road sign outside Santa Buenaventura State Beach.
At the north end of the beach, several dozen surfers fought their way atop 3- to 4-foot swells. By midafternoon, with the beach largely emptied, Robin Hoag and Paige Leichtnam made their way over from their nearby home.
They have been hiking county trails and riding their bikes to work since their favorite beach was closed last month, but they waited for the visitors from L.A. County, where beaches are still closed , to leave before coming back Saturday to play paddle ball.
“It’s pretty laid-back now,” Hoag said. “People will go wherever it’s open.”
Ashley Bautista, public information officer for Ventura County, said there was a law enforcement presence at all of the county’s beaches, and officers were informing visitors that they were only supposed to walk, run, swim or surf. Beachgoers were complying, and beaches were not packed, she said.
“We appreciate that our community members are making these sacrifices,” she said, “and that local law enforcement is focused on education for compliance.”
People crowd the bike path around the Huntington Beach pier April 25. Many donned hats, sunglasses and umbrellas, and some brought hand sanitizer, but few wore protective masks. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
In Orange County, a chilly breeze and cloudy skies didn’t deter hundreds of families, friends and couples from descending on Huntington Beach early Sunday.
Couples lay on beach towels watching dozens of surfers ride the waves as others played on the beach. A mother kept watch over young boys digging holes with a shovel near the shore, while several teenagers flopped on boogie boards.
Most people kept a safe distance from others. Many donned hats, sunglasses and umbrellas but few wore protective masks.
Eva Sanchez, in a red polka dot swimsuit, sat on a beach towel looking out at the ocean with husband Jorge, 21, and their 7-month-old baby Mateo. They kept their distance from other beachgoers.
“I wanted to get out of the house for a little bit, bring [Mateo] to the beach because I bought him his clothes,” said Sanchez, 20, laughing.
The Azusa resident wasn’t too concerned about the spread of the virus. She and her family were well stocked with hand sanitizer and were avoiding touching things unnecessarily.
“I believe I’m taking my precautions, practicing social distancing, constantly washing our hands,” she said. “So I’m not that scared.”
Asked if she was concerned about others not abiding by social distancing orders, she said: “As long as it doesn’t interfere with me, I feel like that’s completely up to them and how they view COVID-19.”
Angie Bennett, spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Police Department, said no one was cited for violating social-distancing guidelines Saturday.
Christopher Sumners, 31, drove to Huntington Beach from Corona on Sunday morning with several friends to relax and enjoy a day in the sun, he said, looking up at the cloudy skies. “And freedom, also,” he said laughing, echoing his friend’s remark.
He and five friends lay on several beach towels and chatted, unconcerned by the threat of the coronavirus.
“I think you have better chances of winning the lottery or getting hit by a car than getting coronavirus,” said Sumners. “Wash your hands like you were taught when you were a child and I think you’re fine,” he said, adding that as long as people aren’t in enclosed crowded spaces, the chances of contracting the virus are slim.
Still, he believes the severity of the virus “was blown out of proportion from the beginning.”
“Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. I don’t think it’s going to escalate any more than it already has,” he said. “I mean, if you’re elderly or have prior health conditions I think you should stay inside, you should take the precautions, but if not, then I can’t see anybody stop living their lives for it.”
Sebastian Alcaraz was preparing to surf at 11th Street in Newport Beach on Friday afternoon, as he has continued to do during the pandemic.
The 17-year-old from Long Beach said he was sick for about a week in January and lost his senses of taste and smell. He now believes he was infected with the coronavirus.
Alcaraz’s friend, Natalie Peart of Huntington Beach, 23, said she felt safe going to the beach.
“We’re in California; we’re the most chill people,” Peart said. “Everyone’s social. Nobody wants to give that up, you know? … People are going out because we’ve been quarantined for a month, and now it’s hot. Nobody wants to be inside.”
Heather Rangel, press information officer for the Newport Beach Police Department, said Saturday that there had been no arrests or citations related to the stay-at-home orders.
Orange County health officials on Sunday reported 105 additional cases of the coronavirus and one new death for a total of 2,074 cases and 39 deaths.
Beaches have been a point of political debate in the coronavirus crisis. Some surfers and others say they don’t see the danger of being allowed back in the water and have been pressing their case to officials and in online polls.
“There is no logical or defensible reason to disallow access to the ocean, provided we maintain responsible spacing, which is essentially guaranteed by Mother Nature,” wrote Andrew Mactavish, one of more than 4,100 people to sign a Change.org petition to reopen Manhattan Beach. “This is a ridiculous publicity stunt on the part of paranoid and apparently ignorant public officials.”
Justis Brown, another petition signatory, added: “Surfing is not a crime.” Many of those signing the petition in one of L.A.’s wealthiest communities proposed allowing locals, alone, to have access to the shore.
Terry Tamminen, who was Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s secretary for environmental protection when the state was preparing for the bird flu epidemic, cautioned against reopening beaches before health officials “understand fully the extent of the infections and have adequately prepared hospital infrastructure for any future ‘waves.’”
“It seems like SoCal has managed much better than NYC or other places whose systems and health workers were totally overwhelmed by the pandemic, so at least we can conclude that our infrastructure is in decent shape for whatever is next,” he said in an email.
“But giving first responders a chance to catch their breath (literally and figuratively) is equally essential — so reopening places where the disease could spread again before we get a meaningful ‘break’ wouldn’t be the best idea.”
It remains unclear when the state will ease the stay-at-home rules, which closed all but essential businesses and limited trips to such tasks as shopping and medical appointments. The order did not cover beaches, so it is up to local authorities to determine when they can open.
Schaffner, the infectious disease specialist, said that as beaches open, what’s important is that people are given clear and detailed guidelines for how to behave.
“You ought to have some subsidiary instructions,” he said. “Don’t mingle in the parking lots. Do you have to wear the mask when you’re on the beach?”
He said that it’s crucial to be specific in letting people know what activities are and aren’t allowed.
“You have to get down to the grains of sand and tell people what they’re expected to do,” he said.
The coronavirus crisis has not hit all of California equally. The virus has slammed Los Angeles County and Silicon Valley harder than some rural areas.
On Sunday, L.A. County reported 18 additional COVID-19 deaths and 440 new cases of the coronavirus. Long Beach, which has its own health department, reported two new deaths and ten additional cases, bringing the county’s total to 915 deaths and 19,538 cases.
The number of deaths in L.A. County doubled over the last week to nearly 900. That has prompted health officials to urge residents to stay home whenever possible.
“We have high rates of illness and a lot of people in our county who are dying. We know it’s best right now for us Angelenos to stay home, or stay outside [in] your own yard or your own neighborhood,” Los Angeles County health director Barbara Ferrer said last week.
Meanwhile, an autopsy report obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle has shed new light on the earliest U.S. death attributed to COVID-19.
Patricia Dowd, 57, of San Jose, died Feb. 6 after suffering flu-like symptoms. An autopsy revealed that she suffered a heart attack that caused her heart to rupture, and signs of infection were also found in her trachea, lungs and intestines, according to the Chronicle.
Dowd’s death was not confirmed to be related to COVID-19 until last week, when Santa Clara County officials told her family that she had tested positive.
County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said the Feb. 6 death and two others in the county found to be linked to COVID-19 — one Feb. 17 and another March 6 — were evidence that the coronavirus arrived in the Bay Area far earlier than expected and spread. Previously, the first documented fatality was outside Seattle on Feb. 29.
“As the Medical Examiner-Coroner continues to carefully investigate deaths throughout the county, we anticipate additional deaths from COVID-19 will be identified,” the county said in a statement.
Amid the shifting timeline of the virus’ spread, Gov. Gavin Newsom said last week that most of the six milestones he set to consider loosening the stay-home order he issued last month had not been met. The only change the governor has made is to allow some elective surgeries to again be scheduled in hospitals, citing sufficient capacity.
“It will be those indicators that drive our decision-making,” he said Thursday. “Not dates. We don’t debate dates. We look at the facts objectively.”
The six milestones include the ability to closely monitor and track potential cases; prevent infection of high-risk people; prepare hospitals to handle surges; develop therapies to meet demand; ensure schools, businesses and child-care facilities can support social distancing; and develop guidelines for when to ask Californians to stay home again if necessary.
On Friday, Newsom said, “We will consider local conditions” when deciding when to ease the rules. “We will consider those things not only from the perspective of the spread of the virus, not only from the perspective of the number of deaths and trend lines, but also in terms of our broader capacity.”


latimes--2020-04-26--3 arrested at beach protest against California stay-at-home order

Three people protesting California ’ s stay-at-home order Saturday in an Encinitas protest were arrested on suspicion of violating San Diego County health orders , marking the latest in a series of rallies along the coast .
About 75 to 100 people gathered near the San Diego County beach to express their disaffection with ongoing stay-at-home orders that also limit access to public parks and beaches .
Several participants were said to have ventured past police tape onto the sand .
Three attendees refused to comply with multiple verbal warnings and were arrested , the department said .
Others marched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park and dispersed around noon .
In addition to the arrests , deputies issued one traffic citation and seven parking tickets during the morning protest .
Over the last few days , there have been protests in San Diego , Newport Beach , Sacramento , Huntington Beach and San Clemente .
An Orange County man has been arrested on suspicion of threatening a KTTV Channel 11 cameraman with a knife hours after the Huntington Beach protest .
In San Diego , could face a misdemeanor charge of encouraging others to violate stay-at-home orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
A police spokesman said the department forwarded the case to the San Diego city attorney ’ s office for review Tuesday .
The move comes after some , including civil rights activists , questioned why police did not cite protesters last weekend for ignoring the orders .
Demonstrators have said it ’ s time to reopen the economy and ease the rules .
But many medical experts and officials in California have said there could be grave repercussions to reopening businesses too early .
A new Associated Press poll Americans support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helpful in combating the coronavirus outbreak .
Other polls show similar support .
For example , a poll of 1,990 voters showed that 81 % supported continuing social distancing for as long as needed .
Only 10 % supported ending social distancing to stimulate the economy .
California ’ s relatively quick action to close businesses and order residents to stay home has tamped down the coronavirus outbreak and left many hospitals largely empty , waiting for a surge that has yet to come .
The initial success of the unprecedented shutdown of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleased experts and public health officials , prompting calls to keep the restrictions in place at least into May to help cement the progress .
Social distancing will be a critical factor .
Lifting restrictions too early would likely lead to dangerous new jumps in cases .
Up the coast in Carlsbad , about 30 protesters gathered near a state beach for an afternoon rally , waving signs in support of reopening sites , Carlsbad police Lt. Greg White said .
The afternoon rally , at Carlsbad Boulevard and Pine Avenue , ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” They were courteous and respectful , ” White said .
The protest came as the stay-at-home order faces its first big test with a weekend heat wave .
Thousands flooded Orange and Ventura county beaches , which were open .
Los Angeles County beaches were closed .
For many , the confluence of a heat wave and more than a month sheltering at home made the hot sand irresistible , prompting beach tableaux that looked more like a peak summer day in normal times than an April Saturday with a respiratory disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being cooped up , we understand people want to enjoy the outside , ” said Ventura Police Cmdr .
Tom Higgins , who described Saturday ’ s beach crowds as unseasonably large .
For the most part , beachgoers kept at least six feet apart from one another , officials said .
Heather Rangel , press information officer for the Newport Beach Police Department , said Saturday that there had been no arrests or citations related to the stay-at-home orders .
“ The beaches are crowded and look like a summer day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email .
Huntington Beach elected to keep its coastline open , though the pier , beach parking lots and some metered parking remain closed .
Angie Bennett , spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Police Department , said Saturday that the beaches appeared somewhat busy , but there were no significant incidents , and no one was cited for violating social-distancing guidelines .
“ What the patrol officers are seeing is that people are staying within their own groups and appropriate distances apart , ” she said .
“ It ’ s been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it sounds like people are complying and doing what we are asking of them.
” Campa and Wigglesworth are Times staff writers .
Van Grove writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune .

Jennifer Van Grove, Andrew J. Campa, Alex Wigglesworth

A big number of Trump supporters rally April 17 on Main Street in Huntington Beach against business closures due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Three people protesting California’s stay-at-home order Saturday in an Encinitas protest were arrested on suspicion of violating San Diego County health orders, marking the latest in a series of rallies along the coast.
About 75 to 100 people gathered near the San Diego County beach to express their disaffection with ongoing stay-at-home orders that also limit access to public parks and beaches.
Several participants were said to have ventured past police tape onto the sand. Three attendees refused to comply with multiple verbal warnings and were arrested, the department said. Others marched without incident toward Swami’s Beach Park and dispersed around noon.
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In addition to the arrests, deputies issued one traffic citation and seven parking tickets during the morning protest.
Over the last few days, there have been protests in San Diego, Newport Beach, Sacramento, Huntington Beach and San Clemente.
An Orange County man has been arrested on suspicion of threatening a KTTV Channel 11 cameraman with a knife hours after the Huntington Beach protest. In San Diego, a woman who police say organized a protest could face a misdemeanor charge of encouraging others to violate stay-at-home orders meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
A police spokesman said the department forwarded the case to the San Diego city attorney’s office for review Tuesday. The move comes after some, including civil rights activists, questioned why police did not cite protesters last weekend for ignoring the orders.
Demonstrators have said it’s time to reopen the economy and ease the rules. But many medical experts and officials in California have said there could be grave repercussions to reopening businesses too early.
A new Associated Press poll found an overwhelming majority of Americans support the stay-at-home orders, seeing them as helpful in combating the coronavirus outbreak.
Other polls show similar support. For example, a poll of 1,990 voters conducted by Politico/Morning Consult showed that 81% supported continuing social distancing for as long as needed. Only 10% supported ending social distancing to stimulate the economy.
California’s relatively quick action to close businesses and order residents to stay home has tamped down the coronavirus outbreak and left many hospitals largely empty, waiting for a surge that has yet to come.
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The initial success of the unprecedented shutdown of schools, businesses and other institutions has pleased experts and public health officials, prompting calls to keep the restrictions in place at least into May to help cement the progress.
Social distancing will be a critical factor. Lifting restrictions too early would likely lead to dangerous new jumps in cases.
Up the coast in Carlsbad, about 30 protesters gathered near a state beach for an afternoon rally, waving signs in support of reopening sites, Carlsbad police Lt. Greg White said. The afternoon rally, at Carlsbad Boulevard and Pine Avenue, ran roughly two hours and stayed peaceful.
”They were courteous and respectful,” White said.
The protest came as the stay-at-home order faces its first big test with a weekend heat wave.
Thousands flooded Orange and Ventura county beaches, which were open. Los Angeles County beaches were closed.
For many, the confluence of a heat wave and more than a month sheltering at home made the hot sand irresistible, prompting beach tableaux that looked more like a peak summer day in normal times than an April Saturday with a respiratory disease circulating among the population.
“After being cooped up, we understand people want to enjoy the outside,” said Ventura Police Cmdr. Tom Higgins, who described Saturday’s beach crowds as unseasonably large.
For the most part, beachgoers kept at least six feet apart from one another, officials said.
Heather Rangel, press information officer for the Newport Beach Police Department, said Saturday that there had been no arrests or citations related to the stay-at-home orders.
“The beaches are crowded and look like a summer day in Newport Beach,” she said in an email.
Huntington Beach elected to keep its coastline open, though the pier, beach parking lots and some metered parking remain closed.
Angie Bennett, spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Police Department, said Saturday that the beaches appeared somewhat busy, but there were no significant incidents, and no one was cited for violating social-distancing guidelines.
“What the patrol officers are seeing is that people are staying within their own groups and appropriate distances apart,” she said. “It’s been a nice, warm day, and it sounds like people are complying and doing what we are asking of them.”
Campa and Wigglesworth are Times staff writers. Van Grove writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.


latimes--2020-04-26--Building dense cities was California's cure for the housing crisis. Then came coronavirus

For more than a decade , California lawmakers have pushed with increasing urgency to build more housing near transit stops and job centers .
Density , they ’ ve reasoned , is the best way to control the exploding cost of living and reduce residents ’ reliance on carbon-spewing vehicles in a state best known for its sprawling suburbs .
But now density has a new foe : the coronavirus .
Skeptics of greater urbanization say the pandemic has proved that they were right all along , pointing to orders from public health officials to use social distancing to slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some ardent urbanists worry that the speed with which the virus devastated packed neighborhoods could lead to a backlash against cities .
New York City , the nation ’ s densest major city , is a hotbed of the outbreak in the United States with more than 150,000 confirmed cases and 11,100 deaths .
That state ’ s governor , Andrew Cuomo , has blamed high-rise apartment complexes and busy subways for the city ’ s plight .
“ Why are we seeing this level of infection ?
Why cities across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s about density , ” Cuomo said at a recent news conference , punctuating his statement with a PowerPoint slide emblazoned with “ DENSITY ” in all capital letters .
The coronavirus , the governor continued , “ is very contagious .
The dense environments are its feeding grounds.
” At the same time , there ’ s lots of evidence that shows density isn ’ t destiny .
Highly populated cities in Asia , including Seoul , Tokyo and Hong Kong , have seen a fraction of New York ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for America ’ s next densest big city , San Francisco , which issued a shelter-in-place order nearly a week before the East Coast metropolis .
As of Saturday , the Bay Area city had reported only about 1,300 confirmed cases — compared with more than 8,450 in the city of Los Angeles .
Nevertheless , speculation about how dense neighborhoods may have contributed to the coronavirus ’ spread will almost certainly have an effect on California ’ s political debates and could affect how the state grows for years to come .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ march toward densification had been cast as the safest way forward .
Moving from cities dominated by single-family homes toward those with townhomes , apartments and even high-rises would allow for new housing to accommodate job growth without gobbling up outlying areas prone to wildfires and straining water resources .
Calls for greater density have only escalated as massive , wind-driven fires have rampaged through suburban and urban locales .
State climate regulators also have said California won ’ t meet its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals without cutbacks in driving — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live closer to where they work and shop .
Such changes , if enacted , could end up reshaping Los Angeles , which is dominated by single-family homes and seemingly endless stretches of low-rise commercial boulevards .
San Francisco , by contrast , has apartment complexes ringing its Financial District and other commercial cores , and about half as much developable land set aside for single-family homes as L.A .
The highest-profile efforts to increase residential density in California have come from state Sen. Scott Wiener ( D-San Francisco ) , who tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apartments near transit stops and job centers .
His legislation failed three times in Sacramento amid opposition from suburban homeowners , low-income tenant advocacy groups and Los Angeles-area lawmakers .
Wiener said Cuomo was wrong to blame density for New York City ’ s woes and instead should take responsibility for his slow response to the virus .
Cities in the Bay Area and around the world have shown that strong , proactive measures from government and public health officials matter much more than how dense a community is when it comes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
California ’ s housing and climate change problems aren ’ t going away , Wiener argued , and adequately addressing them will require more home building in already developed places .
“ It ’ s not environmentally sustainable to keep sprawling out further and further , ” said Wiener , who has authored another bill to build more housing in single-family-home neighborhoods .
However , he said he expects longtime opponents of his measures will use the pandemic as another reason to attack them .
And as well they should , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former head of Livable California , a slow-growth organization .
Kirsch said the public health guidelines to slow the coronavirus show that efforts to fast-track housing near job centers and prevent neighborhood groups from blocking such developments are a mistake .
Millions of Californians are now working from home , she said , taking vehicular traffic off the roads and showing that businesses can function in a more environmentally friendly way , all without the need to upend the state ’ s landscape .
“ If the coronavirus becomes the example where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delusional the push for more density is , it shows the opposition we ’ ve been bringing up all along was well founded , ” Kirsch said .
In some ways , the coronavirus outbreak falls in line with viral plagues that have ravaged dense places for millennia , said Edward Glaeser , an economist at Harvard University and author of the book “ Triumph of the City.
” It ’ s only recently that metropolises have largely escaped such disasters .
“ There are always demons that creep in when human beings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
Across the country , denser counties are seeing higher rates of coronavirus infections and deaths from COVID-19 , even after taking into account factors such as weather , race and age , according to an analysis by Jed Kolko , chief economist with the jobs website Indeed .
Still , he said a variety of factors associated with denser places , such as being hubs for international air travel , might be a better explanation for the disproportionate number of cases , rather than a simple concentration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uneven rates of testing and the likelihood that the pandemic is in an early stage of spread , Kolko said the infection patterns may change .
“ It ’ s way too soon to put up the scorecard of how different places will ultimately fare , ” he said .
An analysis by New York University ’ s Furman Center found no relationship between the coronavirus and overall population density within New York City , with neighborhoods in Manhattan , the city ’ s densest borough , having some of the lowest infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find that the virus is more prevalent in areas of New York where more people are crowding into homes .
While Los Angeles isn ’ t known for its dense landscape , the county is home to five of the 10 most “ crowded ” ZIP Codes — including the No .
1 most crowded — in the U.S. , a recent Times analysis found .
That means people are living in neighborhoods dominated by homes with more than one person per room , excluding bathrooms .
Public health officials are especially worried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus .
For decades , discriminatory housing policies and poverty have forced many people of color into the margins of many communities , where there ’ s little choice but to live in overcrowded homes and apartments , clustered near highways and industrial sites , and away from well-kept parks and other open spaces , said Jay Pitter , a Toronto-based urbanist who has written about the debate over density and the coronavirus .
Such living situations have helped lead to increased rates of diabetes , hypertension and asthma — part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dying from COVID-19 at a much higher rate than white Americans .
“ It ’ s not density itself , ” Pitter said .
“ It is the fact that bad density plus social inequality is a deadly mix.
” Glaeser , who advocates for greater urban development , said that the pandemic has revealed the need for a significant investment in public health to make cities safer and to continue their ascent as economic engines .
Still , the kind of increases in density that are being considered in California doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not exactly talking replacing Beverly Hills with the Dharavi slum here , ” Glaeser said .
“ A little bit of townhouses near BART stations is hardly going to be a recipe for disaster .
”

Men stand outside an apartment building in the Westlake District of Los Angeles, which has the second-highest population density in the city, with about 38,214 people per square mile.
For more than a decade, California lawmakers have pushed with increasing urgency to build more housing near transit stops and job centers. Density, they’ve reasoned, is the best way to control the exploding cost of living and reduce residents’ reliance on carbon-spewing vehicles in a state best known for its sprawling suburbs.
But now density has a new foe: the coronavirus.
Skeptics of greater urbanization say the pandemic has proved that they were right all along, pointing to orders from public health officials to use social distancing to slow the spread of the virus. Even some ardent urbanists worry that the speed with which the virus devastated packed neighborhoods could lead to a backlash against cities.
New York City, the nation’s densest major city, is a hotbed of the outbreak in the United States with more than 150,000 confirmed cases and 11,100 deaths. That state’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, has blamed high-rise apartment complexes and busy subways for the city’s plight.
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“Why are we seeing this level of infection? Why cities across the country? It’s very simple. It’s about density,” Cuomo said at a recent news conference, punctuating his statement with a PowerPoint slide emblazoned with “DENSITY” in all capital letters. The coronavirus, the governor continued, “is very contagious. The dense environments are its feeding grounds.”
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo blames New York City’s density for the widespread coronavirus outbreak during a news conference on April 13. (Screenshot of Cuomo news conference)
At the same time, there’s lots of evidence that shows density isn’t destiny.
Highly populated cities in Asia, including Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong, have seen a fraction of New York’s cases. The same is true for America’s next densest big city, San Francisco, which issued a shelter-in-place order nearly a week before the East Coast metropolis. As of Saturday, the Bay Area city had reported only about 1,300 confirmed cases — compared with more than 8,450 in the city of Los Angeles.
Nevertheless, speculation about how dense neighborhoods may have contributed to the coronavirus’ spread will almost certainly have an effect on California’s political debates and could affect how the state grows for years to come.
Before now, the state’s march toward densification had been cast as the safest way forward.
Moving from cities dominated by single-family homes toward those with townhomes, apartments and even high-rises would allow for new housing to accommodate job growth without gobbling up outlying areas prone to wildfires and straining water resources.
Calls for greater density have only escalated as massive, wind-driven fires have rampaged through suburban and urban locales. State climate regulators also have said California won’t meet its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals without cutbacks in driving — and that will only come if more people live closer to where they work and shop.
Such changes, if enacted, could end up reshaping Los Angeles, which is dominated by single-family homes and seemingly endless stretches of low-rise commercial boulevards. San Francisco, by contrast, has apartment complexes ringing its Financial District and other commercial cores, and about half as much developable land set aside for single-family homes as L.A.
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The highest-profile efforts to increase residential density in California have come from state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who tried through Senate Bill 50 to push mid-rise apartments near transit stops and job centers. His legislation failed three times in Sacramento amid opposition from suburban homeowners, low-income tenant advocacy groups and Los Angeles-area lawmakers.
Wiener said Cuomo was wrong to blame density for New York City’s woes and instead should take responsibility for his slow response to the virus. Cities in the Bay Area and around the world have shown that strong, proactive measures from government and public health officials matter much more than how dense a community is when it comes to preventing deaths from COVID-19, he said.
California’s housing and climate change problems aren’t going away, Wiener argued, and adequately addressing them will require more home building in already developed places.
“It’s not environmentally sustainable to keep sprawling out further and further,” said Wiener, who has authored another bill to build more housing in single-family-home neighborhoods.
However, he said he expects longtime opponents of his measures will use the pandemic as another reason to attack them.
State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) at the Capitol in Sacramento. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)
And as well they should, said Susan Kirsch, a Marin County activist and former head of Livable California, a slow-growth organization.
Kirsch said the public health guidelines to slow the coronavirus show that efforts to fast-track housing near job centers and prevent neighborhood groups from blocking such developments are a mistake. Millions of Californians are now working from home, she said, taking vehicular traffic off the roads and showing that businesses can function in a more environmentally friendly way, all without the need to upend the state’s landscape.
“If the coronavirus becomes the example where it becomes more clear to everybody how delusional the push for more density is, it shows the opposition we’ve been bringing up all along was well founded,” Kirsch said.
In some ways, the coronavirus outbreak falls in line with viral plagues that have ravaged dense places for millennia, said Edward Glaeser, an economist at Harvard University and author of the book “Triumph of the City.” It’s only recently that metropolises have largely escaped such disasters.
“There are always demons that creep in when human beings are living very close to one another,” he said.
Across the country, denser counties are seeing higher rates of coronavirus infections and deaths from COVID-19, even after taking into account factors such as weather, race and age, according to an analysis by Jed Kolko, chief economist with the jobs website Indeed.
Still, he said a variety of factors associated with denser places, such as being hubs for international air travel, might be a better explanation for the disproportionate number of cases, rather than a simple concentration of apartment dwellers. Also, given the uneven rates of testing and the likelihood that the pandemic is in an early stage of spread, Kolko said the infection patterns may change.
“It’s way too soon to put up the scorecard of how different places will ultimately fare,” he said.
An analysis by New York University’s Furman Center found no relationship between the coronavirus and overall population density within New York City, with neighborhoods in Manhattan, the city’s densest borough, having some of the lowest infection rates. However, the study did find that the virus is more prevalent in areas of New York where more people are crowding into homes.
People walk along Union Avenue in the Westlake District of Los Angeles, which has the second-highest population density in the city, with about 38,214 people per square mile. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
While Los Angeles isn’t known for its dense landscape, the county is home to five of the 10 most “crowded” ZIP Codes — including the No. 1 most crowded — in the U.S., a recent Times analysis found. That means people are living in neighborhoods dominated by homes with more than one person per room, excluding bathrooms.
Public health officials are especially worried about the close quarters accelerating the spread of the virus.
For decades, discriminatory housing policies and poverty have forced many people of color into the margins of many communities, where there’s little choice but to live in overcrowded homes and apartments, clustered near highways and industrial sites, and away from well-kept parks and other open spaces, said Jay Pitter, a Toronto-based urbanist who has written about the debate over density and the coronavirus.
Such living situations have helped lead to increased rates of diabetes, hypertension and asthma — part of the reason why black Americans are dying from COVID-19 at a much higher rate than white Americans.
“It’s not density itself,” Pitter said. “It is the fact that bad density plus social inequality is a deadly mix.”
Glaeser, who advocates for greater urban development, said that the pandemic has revealed the need for a significant investment in public health to make cities safer and to continue their ascent as economic engines.
Still, the kind of increases in density that are being considered in California doesn’t worry him.
“We’re not exactly talking replacing Beverly Hills with the Dharavi slum here,” Glaeser said. “A little bit of townhouses near BART stations is hardly going to be a recipe for disaster.”


latimes--2020-04-26--Despite coronavirus, many flock to Orange and Ventura county beaches to beat the heat

On the first warm weekend of spring , the beach in Santa Monica was deserted — an apocalyptic emptiness unimaginable just a few months ago .
Down the coast in Huntington Beach , the novel coronavirus pandemic seemed far away .
Colorful umbrellas and bikini-clad sunbathers dotted the sand .
As temperatures soared into the upper 80s in some parts of the region on Saturday , crossing county lines was like entering different worlds .
Some beaches in Orange and Ventura counties were open even as the coronavirus crisis continued , with scores of new cases and fatalities daily .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay home except for necessary errands and to exercise in one ’ s own neighborhood , people flocked to the beaches .
For many , the confluence of a heat wave and more than a month sheltering at home made a visit to the sand irresistible , prompting beach tableaux that looked more like a peak summer day in normal times than an April Saturday with a respiratory disease circulating among the population .
“ After being cooped up , we understand people want to enjoy the outside , ” said Ventura @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described Saturday ’ s beach crowds as unseasonably large .
For the most part , beachgoers kept at least six feet apart from one another , officials said .
Heather Rangel , press information officer for the Newport Beach Police Department , said Saturday there had been no arrests or citations related to the stay-at-home orders .
“ The beaches are crowded and look like a summer day in Newport Beach , ” she said in an email .
Huntington Beach elected to keep its coastline open , though the pier , beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed .
Angie Bennett , spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Police Department , said Saturday the beaches appeared somewhat busy , but there were no significant incidents , and no one was cited for violating social distancing guidelines .
“ What the patrol officers are seeing is that people are staying within their own groups and appropriate distances apart , ” she said .
“ It ’ s been a nice , warm day , and it sounds like people are complying and doing what we are asking of them.
” Enthusiasm for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universal .
Some Orange County cities , including Laguna Beach and Seal Beach , have closed their beaches .
The Wedge , a popular Newport Beach surfing destination , is closed .
Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett noted that the region had been inundated with people from L.A. and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire .
“ When you take a look at the folks that are coming down , they ’ re not only not adhering to safer-at-home policies in their own communities — they ’ re not even staying in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this week .
On Saturday , Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore tweeted photos of unbroken expanses of sand , shot from a helicopter .
“ My compliments to our community for staying away from the beaches in LA , ” he wrote .
“ From Malibu , Santa Monica , Venice , to Dockweiler - All Clear !
!
” Barbara Ferrer , director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health , has said repeatedly that beaches should remain closed to prevent an overflow of visitors who might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L.A. residents not to crowd the coast in neighboring counties .
On Saturday , as L.A. County reported 48 new deaths and 607 additional cases of COVID-19 , Ferrer renewed her call for people to stay home .
Of the new deaths , 37 victims were older than 65 , and nine were ages 41 to 65 .
Thirty-eight had underlying health conditions .
Long Beach , which has its own health department , reported 26 new cases , bringing the county total to 896 deaths and more than 19,100 cases .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the last week , and more than 7,000 new cases were diagnosed .
The total number of cases stands at more than 19,000 .
Ferrer urged people craving fresh air to limit themselves to walking in their neighborhoods .
“ Public pools and all beaches remain closed for your well-being and the health of those most vulnerable for serious illness and death from COVID-19 , ” Ferrer said in a statement .
“ Continue to do your part and save lives .
This is how we get to the other side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orange County health officials on Saturday announced 124 new COVID-19 cases , the highest one-day increase since the start of the pandemic .
Health officials also reported two additional deaths , bringing county totals to 1,969 cases and 38 deaths .
Ventura County has reported a total of 476 cases and 16 deaths .
Last week , the city of Ventura eased a hard closure on parks and beaches .
Beaches , the promenade and parks are open to visitors , who must keep their distance from one another and remain on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area if visitors ignore the rules .
On the beach in Ventura on Saturday , families played in the sand , and surfers plied the waves .
Dogs wandered freely as a solitary lifeguard stood outside her tower scanning the turquoise water with binoculars .
Few people wore masks , but most observed social distancing rules .
Ventura Police Sgt .
Mike Anselmo could not bring himself to enforce the rules against lingering on the beach .
Umbrellas , however , had to come down ; perhaps the lack of shade would encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you ’ re not supposed to sit down .
But they ’ re with kids , ” Anselmo said .
“ I ’ m not going to ask some 50-year-old parents to run around with kids all day.
” Temperatures are expected to cool slightly but to stay on the warm side next week .
One sunbather from the San Fernando Valley , who declined to give her name , said she had driven north to do what Southern Californians often do when the mercury rises .
“ It ’ s hot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s the go-to thing to do if you live in California .
”

Kevin Baxter, Alex Wigglesworth, Cindy Chang

The words “love” and “be kind” are woven into a fence with yellow police tape at a closed beach in Venice. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Brian Chapman, of Santa Monica, plays Frisbee with friend Kris Sims, of Santa Clarita, at the beach in Ventura. “We came up because all of the beaches in Los Angeles are closed,” Chapman said. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Adam Choi, at center with mask, and Grace Kim walk along a trail at the beach in Ventura. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
A pedestrian pauses to video chat on the empty beach in Manhattan Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Tyler MacFarland reads a book under the pier at the beach in Ventura. “I am still working and for the last month and a half it has been just work, home, work, home,” MacFarland said. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
The bike path on Ocean Front Walk in Venice was open, but police officers were out in force to keep people off the beach. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A group of young people make a political statement as they pedal a surrey bike down a crowded bike path in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A man pleads his case with a Santa Monica police officer on the closed oceanfront bike path. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Beachgoers, ignoring social distancing rules and beach closures, walk in groups to the stairs leading to Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Parking was restricted severely along Pacific Coast Highway over the weekend, with Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies trying to keep people off closed beaches. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Elizabeth Robles of Laguna Beach got a $30 ticket after parking in a no-parking zone to visit Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point to surf. “The ticket is worth it to me. I broke my arm recently and haven’t surfed in eight months,” she says. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Neighbors practice social distancing while enjoying the weather near the Strand in Hermosa Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
A surfer catches a wave in Newport Beach, where the sand drew a crowd weary of isolation. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Bowie Davis, 3, plays in her kiddie pool with her father, Ed Davis, by her side at their home near the Strand in Hermosa Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Kennedy, 2, and her 6-year-old brother Jackson play in the sand near the Strand in Manhattan Beach. The Bobo family drove in from Perris. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Trying to beat the heat in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The beach near Veterans Park in Redondo Beach remains closed Saturday because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
People crowd the bike path around the pier in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
In Santa Monica police keep watch over the empty beach and closed bike path. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A man plays fetch with his dog on Rocky Beach in Topanga despite law enforcement efforts to keep people away. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A woman walks on deserted Venice Beach, which is among closed beaches in L.A. County. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Thousands of beachgoers enjoy a warm, sunny day on the sand in Huntington Beach amid state-mandated stay-at-home restrictions. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
On the first warm weekend of spring, the beach in Santa Monica was deserted — an apocalyptic emptiness unimaginable just a few months ago.
Down the coast in Huntington Beach, the novel coronavirus pandemic seemed far away. Colorful umbrellas and bikini-clad sunbathers dotted the sand.
As temperatures soared into the upper 80s in some parts of the region on Saturday, crossing county lines was like entering different worlds. Some beaches in Orange and Ventura counties were open even as the coronavirus crisis continued, with scores of new cases and fatalities daily.
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Despite orders from state and local officials to stay home except for necessary errands and to exercise in one’s own neighborhood, people flocked to the beaches.
For many, the confluence of a heat wave and more than a month sheltering at home made a visit to the sand irresistible, prompting beach tableaux that looked more like a peak summer day in normal times than an April Saturday with a respiratory disease circulating among the population.
“After being cooped up, we understand people want to enjoy the outside,” said Ventura Police Cmdr. Tom Higgins, who described Saturday’s beach crowds as unseasonably large.
For the most part, beachgoers kept at least six feet apart from one another, officials said.
Heather Rangel, press information officer for the Newport Beach Police Department, said Saturday there had been no arrests or citations related to the stay-at-home orders.
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“The beaches are crowded and look like a summer day in Newport Beach,” she said in an email.
Huntington Beach elected to keep its coastline open, though the pier, beach parking lots and some metered parking remained closed.
Angie Bennett, spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Police Department, said Saturday the beaches appeared somewhat busy, but there were no significant incidents, and no one was cited for violating social distancing guidelines.
“What the patrol officers are seeing is that people are staying within their own groups and appropriate distances apart,” she said. “It’s been a nice, warm day, and it sounds like people are complying and doing what we are asking of them.”
Enthusiasm for beachgoing during the pandemic is far from universal. Some Orange County cities, including Laguna Beach and Seal Beach, have closed their beaches. The Wedge, a popular Newport Beach surfing destination, is closed.
Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett noted that the region had been inundated with people from L.A. and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire.
“When you take a look at the folks that are coming down, they’re not only not adhering to safer-at-home policies in their own communities — they’re not even staying in their own counties,” she said earlier this week.
On Saturday, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore tweeted photos of unbroken expanses of sand, shot from a helicopter.
“My compliments to our community for staying away from the beaches in LA,” he wrote. “From Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, to Dockweiler - All Clear!!”
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
Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, has said repeatedly that beaches should remain closed to prevent an overflow of visitors who might be carrying the coronavirus. She has asked L.A. residents not to crowd the coast in neighboring counties.
On Saturday, as L.A. County reported 48 new deaths and 607 additional cases of COVID-19, Ferrer renewed her call for people to stay home.
Of the new deaths, 37 victims were older than 65, and nine were ages 41 to 65. Thirty-eight had underlying health conditions.
Long Beach, which has its own health department, reported 26 new cases, bringing the county total to 896 deaths and more than 19,100 cases.
The number of deaths in L.A. County doubled in the last week, and more than 7,000 new cases were diagnosed. The total number of cases stands at more than 19,000.
Ferrer urged people craving fresh air to limit themselves to walking in their neighborhoods.
“Public pools and all beaches remain closed for your well-being and the health of those most vulnerable for serious illness and death from COVID-19,” Ferrer said in a statement. “Continue to do your part and save lives. This is how we get to the other side of the outbreak and begin our recovery.”
Orange County health officials on Saturday announced 124 new COVID-19 cases, the highest one-day increase since the start of the pandemic. Health officials also reported two additional deaths, bringing county totals to 1,969 cases and 38 deaths.
Ventura County has reported a total of 476 cases and 16 deaths.
Last week, the city of Ventura eased a hard closure on parks and beaches. Beaches, the promenade and parks are open to visitors, who must keep their distance from one another and remain on the move. Police can indefinitely close an area if visitors ignore the rules.
On the beach in Ventura on Saturday, families played in the sand, and surfers plied the waves. Dogs wandered freely as a solitary lifeguard stood outside her tower scanning the turquoise water with binoculars. Few people wore masks, but most observed social distancing rules.
Ventura Police Sgt. Mike Anselmo could not bring himself to enforce the rules against lingering on the beach. Umbrellas, however, had to come down; perhaps the lack of shade would encourage people to move on.
“Technically, you’re not supposed to sit down. But they’re with kids,” Anselmo said. “I’m not going to ask some 50-year-old parents to run around with kids all day.”
Temperatures are expected to cool slightly but to stay on the warm side next week.
One sunbather from the San Fernando Valley, who declined to give her name, said she had driven north to do what Southern Californians often do when the mercury rises.
“It’s hot,” the Canoga Park resident said. “It’s the go-to thing to do if you live in California.”


latimes--2020-04-25--Southern California beaches fill up as people seek relief from the heat and weeks of staying home

Ventura and Orange county beaches that were open Saturday drew big crowds hoping to cool off and enjoy the views .
Officials reported few incidents and said people were doing their best to social distance .
In Ventura , the opening of city and state beaches brought out hundreds , an unseasonably large crowd , said Ventura Police Cmdr .
Tom Higgins .
Most people , drawn by comfortable temperatures that hovered in the mid 70s under pale-blue skies , stuck to the bike and running paths just above the sand .
But hundreds also made their way down to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After being cooped up , we understand people want to enjoy the outside , ” Higgins said .
But with restrictions .
The beaches in Ventura County are only partially opened and poster-size signs offer constant reminders of what is and isn ’ t permitted .
Parking lots , playgrounds , restrooms and restaurants all remain closed , as does the Ventura pier , which separates city and state beaches that are operating under slightly different rules .
The rules forbid beachgoers from sitting or lying on the sand , but that wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At midday , Ventura police Sgt .
Mike Anselmo walked along the sand politely asking people with children to take their umbrellas down but allowing them to sunbathe .
“ Technically you ’ re not supposed to sit down .
But they ’ re with kids .
I ’ m not going to ask some 50-year-old parents to run around with kids all day , ” Anselmo said .
The lack of shade , he added , would encourage them to move on .
The goal , Higgins said , was to apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue citations .
“ We ’ re in a mode of educating right now , ” he said .
Even dogs were given a long leash , allowed to wander freely as a solitary lifeguard in a red bathing suit stood outside her tower scanning the turquoise water with binoculars .
Although few people — including the lifeguard and police — wore masks , most observed social-distancing rules , reminded to stay six feet apart by a flashing road sign outside Santa Buenaventura State Beach .
At the north end of the beach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ atop the 3- to 4-foot swells .
By midafternoon , with the beach largely emptied , Robin Hoag and Paige Leichtnam finally made their way over from their nearby home .
They have been hiking county trails and riding their bikes to work since their favorite beach was closed last month , but they waited for the visitors from L.A. County , where beaches are still closed , to leave before coming back Saturday to play paddle ball .
“ It ’ s pretty laid-back now , ” Hoag said .
“ People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Heather Rangel , press information officer for the Newport Beach Police Department , said there had been no arrests or citations related to the stay-at-home orders , despite an uptick in beachgoers .
“ The beaches are crowded and look like a summer day in Newport Beach , ” she said in an email .
Huntington Beach also elected to open its coastline , though the pier , beach parking lot and some metered parking remain closed .
Angie Bennett , spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Police Department , said that beaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no significant incidents , and no one was cited for violating social-distancing guidelines .
“ What the patrol officers are seeing is that people are staying within their own groups and appropriate distances apart , ” she said .
“ It ’ s been a nice , warm day , and it sounds like people are complying and doing what we are asking of them .
”

The words “love” and “be kind” are woven into a fence with yellow police tape at a closed beach in Venice. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Brian Chapman, of Santa Monica, plays Frisbee with friend Kris Sims, of Santa Clarita, at the beach in Ventura. “We came up because all of the beaches in Los Angeles are closed,” Chapman said. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Adam Choi, at center with mask, and Grace Kim walk along a trail at the beach in Ventura. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
A pedestrian pauses to video chat on the empty beach in Manhattan Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Tyler MacFarland reads a book under the pier at the beach in Ventura. “I am still working and for the last month and a half it has been just work, home, work, home,” MacFarland said. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
The bike path on Ocean Front Walk in Venice was open, but police officers were out in force to keep people off the beach. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A group of young people make a political statement as they pedal a surrey bike down a crowded bike path in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
A man pleads his case with a Santa Monica police officer on the closed oceanfront bike path. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Beachgoers, ignoring social distancing rules and beach closures, walk in groups to the stairs leading to Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Parking was restricted severely along Pacific Coast Highway over the weekend, with Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies trying to keep people off closed beaches. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Elizabeth Robles of Laguna Beach got a $30 ticket after parking in a no-parking zone to visit Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point to surf. “The ticket is worth it to me. I broke my arm recently and haven’t surfed in eight months,” she says. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Neighbors practice social distancing while enjoying the weather near the Strand in Hermosa Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
A surfer catches a wave in Newport Beach, where the sand drew a crowd weary of isolation. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Bowie Davis, 3, plays in her kiddie pool with her father, Ed Davis, by her side at their home near the Strand in Hermosa Beach. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Kennedy, 2, and her 6-year-old brother Jackson play in the sand near the Strand in Manhattan Beach. The Bobo family drove in from Perris. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Trying to beat the heat in Newport Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
The beach near Veterans Park in Redondo Beach remains closed Saturday because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
People crowd the bike path around the pier in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
In Santa Monica police keep watch over the empty beach and closed bike path. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A man plays fetch with his dog on Rocky Beach in Topanga despite law enforcement efforts to keep people away. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
A woman walks on deserted Venice Beach, which is among closed beaches in L.A. County. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Thousands of beachgoers enjoy a warm, sunny day on the sand in Huntington Beach amid state-mandated stay-at-home restrictions. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Ventura and Orange county beaches that were open Saturday drew big crowds hoping to cool off and enjoy the views.
Officials reported few incidents and said people were doing their best to social distance.
In Ventura, the opening of city and state beaches brought out hundreds, an unseasonably large crowd, said Ventura Police Cmdr. Tom Higgins.
Most people, drawn by comfortable temperatures that hovered in the mid 70s under pale-blue skies, stuck to the bike and running paths just above the sand. But hundreds also made their way down to the water’s edge.
“After being cooped up, we understand people want to enjoy the outside,” Higgins said.
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But with restrictions. The beaches in Ventura County are only partially opened and poster-size signs offer constant reminders of what is and isn’t permitted.
Parking lots, playgrounds, restrooms and restaurants all remain closed, as does the Ventura pier, which separates city and state beaches that are operating under slightly different rules.
“We’re coordinating so they’re consistent,” Higgins said.
Beachgoers fly a kite at the beach Saturday in Ventura, CA. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)
The rules forbid beachgoers from sitting or lying on the sand, but that wasn’t being strictly enforced Saturday.
At midday, Ventura police Sgt. Mike Anselmo walked along the sand politely asking people with children to take their umbrellas down but allowing them to sunbathe.
“Technically you’re not supposed to sit down. But they’re with kids. I’m not going to ask some 50-year-old parents to run around with kids all day,” Anselmo said. The lack of shade, he added, would encourage them to move on.
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The goal, Higgins said, was to apply common sense and seek cooperation rather than issue citations.
“We’re in a mode of educating right now,” he said.
Even dogs were given a long leash, allowed to wander freely as a solitary lifeguard in a red bathing suit stood outside her tower scanning the turquoise water with binoculars.
Although few people — including the lifeguard and police — wore masks, most observed social-distancing rules, reminded to stay six feet apart by a flashing road sign outside Santa Buenaventura State Beach.
At the north end of the beach, several dozen surfers fought to get atop the 3- to 4-foot swells.
By midafternoon, with the beach largely emptied, Robin Hoag and Paige Leichtnam finally made their way over from their nearby home.
They have been hiking county trails and riding their bikes to work since their favorite beach was closed last month, but they waited for the visitors from L.A. County, where beaches are still closed, to leave before coming back Saturday to play paddle ball.
“It’s pretty laid-back now,” Hoag said. “People will go wherever it’s open.”
Heather Rangel, press information officer for the Newport Beach Police Department, said there had been no arrests or citations related to the stay-at-home orders, despite an uptick in beachgoers.
“The beaches are crowded and look like a summer day in Newport Beach,” she said in an email.
Huntington Beach also elected to open its coastline, though the pier, beach parking lot and some metered parking remain closed.
Angie Bennett, spokeswoman for the Huntington Beach Police Department, said that beaches appeared somewhat busy, but there were no significant incidents, and no one was cited for violating social-distancing guidelines.
“What the patrol officers are seeing is that people are staying within their own groups and appropriate distances apart,” she said. “It’s been a nice, warm day, and it sounds like people are complying and doing what we are asking of them.”