Beachgoers in Los Angeles County may face hefty fines for failing to adhere to local coronavirus restrictions, including wearing masks and social distancing while visiting area beaches during Labor Day weekend.
Officials from the Department of Beaches and Harbors issued rules for L.A. County beaches, which permits basic beach activities, such as sunbathing, fishing, picnicking, and swimming. However, other activities, beach volleyball, organized sports, and large gatherings, for example, are prohibited.
Additionally, beachgoers are required to maintain proper social distancing, keeping a six-foot distance from others, except those within the same household. Everyone above the age of two is required to wear a face-covering “when out of the water,” per the guidelines, which were last updated September 4, days before Labor Day.
The face-covering requirement coincides with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s reopening protocol for public beaches, which states that “everyone who visits the beaches must wear a face covering at all times (except while eating or drinking, or while in the water).”
“Those between the ages of 2 and 8 should use them under adult supervision to ensure that the child can breathe safely and to avoid choking or suffocation,” the guidance states. “Only individuals who have been instructed not to wear a face covering by their medical provider are exempt from wearing one.”
Those who violate the guidelines could face hefty fines, as reported by Deadline:
In Manhattan Beach, for example, people who fail to wear masks can face fines beginning at $100 and ranging up to $350. In Santa Monica, violators could be fined as much as $500.
County Department of Beaches and Harbors officials also emphasized that barbecues and bonfires are prohibited at the beaches and in beach parking lots.
Officials have warned that beaches may shut down if areas get too crowded and beachgoers fail to adhere to public health directives.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of following the public health guidelines,” Beaches and Harbor Director Gary Jones said in a statement.
“It is absolutely imperative that beachgoers avoid crowds. If the beaches get too crowded, we may be forced to close them again,” Jones added.
The emphasis on adhering to the guidelines comes as the area faces a heatwave, temperatures rising well into the 100s:
A majority of CA, western AZ, and southern NV have excessive heat warnings in effect this weekend. Here is a map with some late Friday afternoon temperature readings. Currently 120 degrees near Death Valley. #CAwx #LAheat #LAweather pic.twitter.com/5rYe3acUFD
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) September 5, 2020
Record Temperatures in the Antelope Valley today. Lancaster tied the previous daily record, and Palmdale broke the old record. Both were in 1955. #CAwx #SoCal #LAheat pic.twitter.com/jgxh8ESy8Y
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) September 5, 2020
Here we go, this is where it gets real. The heat really starts to ramp up today where there will be widespread triple digit heat away from the beaches. PLEASE take caution and stay inside with AC if you can! This heat can be DEADLY! #CAwx #LAheat #heatwave pic.twitter.com/GmbbWzckVy
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) September 5, 2020
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