Long Beach and other parts of the state are closing down portions of the economy again with coronavirus cases soaring and the July 4 holiday on the horizon.
The city, along with Los Angeles and Orange counties, announced a series of closures this week in hopes of stemming any further spread. The governor announced additional closures on Thursday for 19 counties that are on a “watch list” due to rising infections.
Since Memorial Day, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Long Beach has risen from 8.4% to 10.8% of those who are tested, with the total number of cases increasing from 1,605 as of May 25 to 4,120 as of June 30.
Here’s a summary of what you can and can’t do in Long Beach and beyond:
This weekend
Beaches will be closed to the public from 12:01 Friday, July 3, to 5:01 a.m. Monday, July 6, in Long Beach, as well as Los Angeles and Orange counties.
The closure also includes piers, beach parking lots (except for permit holders), beach access ways, bathrooms and beach bike and pedestrian paths.
The state also announced it would close all parking facilities at state beaches in Southern California, and state beaches will be closed in counties such as Los Angeles that have moved to close their own beaches.
All fireworks shows have been canceled.
Parks remain open, however Mayor Robert Garcia warned at a media briefing Thursday that people need to follow health and safety guidance—or else the city may have to close them. This includes only gathering with members of one’s immediate family, wearing face coverings and staying 6 feet away from others.
“People need to self police,” he said. “We don’t want to close our parks.
“People need to be respectful and responsible.”
The next 3 weeks
Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered cities, including Long Beach, to close indoor dining and other spaces for the next three weeks. Restaurants may still operate for outdoor dining, curbside pickup, doorside pickup and delivery.
These closures also affect the Aquarium of the Pacific, which may still operate outdoor spaces, along with museums, wineries, tasting rooms, family entertainment centers and card rooms.
The mandatory closure will go into effect at midnight on Thursday, July 2.
City officials noted they have constructed 18 parklets to allow more outdoor dining in front of restaurants in busy corridors such as Belmont Shore, Downtown, Retro Row and Bixby Knolls, with seven more to be installed Thursday and Friday and “many more” scheduled in the coming days.
Until further notice
Earlier in the week the governor announced the mandatory closure of bars in seven counties that had rising cases, including Los Angeles County. On Thursday, he announced that order would extend to an additional 12 counties, including Orange County.
The governor cited the social nature of bars, the potential for alcohol consumption to reduce inhibition and impair judgment and the challenges of contact tracing among bar-goers.
The order applies to brewpubs, craft distilleries, breweries, bars, pubs, wineries and associated tasting rooms that do not have a restaurant permit.