Long Beach officials announced today they will reopen public beaches—but only for active uses like walking and swimming—starting Wednesday.
After being closed since mid-March to slow the spread of coronavirus, beaches will be open daily from sunrise to sunset. Beachgoers must be alone or with members of only their own household.
Beachgoers aren’t allowed to linger or lounge on the sand. The coastline is only open for activities such as swimming, walking, running, kite surfing, kayaking and similar uses. Beach restrooms will also be open and disinfected on a regular basis.
The city’s announcement matches Los Angeles County’s beach plan.
Rosie’s Dog Beach and the city’s dog parks will also be open starting Wednesday.
But these amenities come with new rules. People at the beaches and dog parks must:
- Stay 6 feet apart at all times (with the exception of people from the same household).
- Avoid crowded areas.
- Wear face coverings when coming in close contact with people outside their household. (Face coverings are not required while doing solo physically distanced exercise).
- Provide 6 feet or more of distance when passing others.
- Continue moving without lingering, except for brief rests.
- Stay home if sick.
- Wash or sanitize hands regularly.
- No sunbathing or stationary activity is allowed (so no chairs, canopies, coolers, grills, etc).
All gatherings of any size are not allowed at beaches and parks, including events, athletic competitions, youth camps and recreational programming. Playgrounds also remain closed.
Beach parking lots and the pier will stay closed and residents who have been issued parking permits will still be able to use those spaces.
“The reopening of our beaches signifies a step towards more opportunities to enjoy our open spaces,” said Mayor Robert Garcia in a press release. “I know that many in our community have been looking forward to more recreation and I’m urging everyone to continue practicing physical distancing so we can continue moving forward safely.”
On Monday, Garcia said the beaches were the last element of a days-long rollout of outdoor spaces the city planned to reopen.
After that, he warned, residents shouldn’t expect any new announcements about reopenings for a while. Health officials will have to take a step back and see if the changes cause a spike in COVID-19 cases or hospitalizations.