Manhattan Beach to remove public seating as COVID-19 cases spike
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. - As the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to rise across Los Angeles County, Manhattan Beach is closing outdoor seating spaces on public property, effective Sunday at 10 p.m.
Tables and chairs in the outdoor seating spaces will be removed at that time.
At the beginning of the current surge on Nov. 1, Manhattan Beach had 425 confirmed cases of COVID-19. As of Saturday, that number nearly doubled to 821 cases. On Dec. 31, the daily number of new cases reached 21, and on New Year's Day, it hit 26, an all-time high. Remaining ICU capacity in Southern California is at 0%.
RELATED: LA County health officer asks Manhattan Beach to stop allowing outdoor dining 'workaround'
"We must continue to respond to the ever-changing dynamics of this pandemic. We are asking residents to stay home if possible, and mainly go out for work and essentials, or to exercise outdoors,'' said Manhattan Beach Mayor Suzanne Hadley.
RELATED: Stay up to date on all coronavirus-related information
"This recent spike in the virus is significant despite the good news last month of our Manhattan Beach firefighters receiving some of the first COVID-19 vaccinations,'' Hadley said. "Although public seating areas will be closed temporarily, please continue supporting our local businesses that offer pick-up, curbside, take-out and delivery services.''
With a new mutant strain of COVID-19 now active in California --reportedly much more easily spread than the original virus -- people must continue striving to reduce virus transmission, wearing face coverings, maintaining a safe distance, staying home as much as possible and supporting local businesses, Manhattan Beach officials said.
People wear face masks and Santa hats while walking on the Manhattan Beach Pier in Manhattan Beach, California, November 21, 2020. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.