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O.C. supervisors vote to keep county's beaches open

By Kelli Johnson
Updated  April 22, 2020 9:30am PDT
Coronavirus in SoCal
FOX 11

Keeping beaches open amidst hot weather and COVID-19

Lawmakers in Orange County have now decided to keep some beaches open with restrictions while keeping others closed.

SANTA ANA, Calif. - The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to keep the county’s beaches open as an incoming heat wave was expected to hit Southern California starting Wednesday.

All city beaches in Orange County remain closed, which includes beaches in San Clemente, Seal Beach and Laguna Beach. 

The following beaches remain open:

• Aliso Beach

• Capistrano Beach

• Dana Point Harbor

• Newport Harbor

• Salt Creek Beach

• Sunset Harbor

“We’re urging people to get outside. If we’ve got some great weather, some sunshine and fresh air, what better place to enjoy it than the beaches if enjoyed responsibly? And I trust our citizens to in fact be responsible,” said Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner.

Keeping beaches open amidst hot weather and COVID-19

Some SoCal beaches will be open this weekend as a heat wave strikes the region amid the coronavirus outbreak.

On March 23, Laguna Beach became the county’s first city to close its beaches and trailheads in the battle against COVID-19, the Orange County Register reported.

RELATED: Stay up to date on all coronavirus-related information

Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen penned a letter to the county’s supervisors urging them to close the county's remaining beaches, but with Tuesday’s decision, to no avail.

The board also approved a face coverings mandate for employees who interact with the public.

RELATED: Orange County approves mandate requiring face coverings for employees at essential businesses

California State Park officials closed vehicle access to all 280 state parks and have fully closed others.

RELATED: 

• Garcetti announces further public closures, including Venice Beach Boardwalk

• First full weekend of hiking trail, beach closures in LA County

Los Angeles County officials opted to close all of its beaches and trailheads in late March after some residents flocked to the sites and failed to practice proper physical distancing protocol and under the direction of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. 

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