NEWPORT BEACH, CA — After a weekend of beach closures, restaurants fighting to reopen, and numerous threats of lawsuits, Orange County beaches could be on track for reopening. Coronavirus has not ended, and as the state grapples with restarting the economy, another heatwave has residents clamoring to return to the shore in any capacity.
On Monday, in Orange County, 2,819 residents have tested positive for coronavirus. Five additional deaths were reported, bringing the county's death toll to 57. There are currently 169 Orange County residents hospitalized as a result of the coronavirus, with 52 requiring intensive care.
While Orange County's largest cities have the greatest number of positive results of coronavirus (Anaheim, with 420 and Santa Ana with 405), the beach city totals have remained in high number, as well:
- Huntington Beach: 230 cases
- Newport Beach: 101 cases
- San Clemente: 50 cases
- Laguna Beach: 38 cases
- Dana Point: 22 cases
- Seal Beach: 11 cases
Laguna Beach announced its approved plan for beach reopening on Monday, that was approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The plan allows for a phased reopening of the beaches to recreation and action-based activity at both Laguna Beach. San Clemente has also received approval for its beach and pier reopening, they say. San Clemente shared the affirmed permission to reopen their beaches for active use of the beaches and pier only, not for sunbathing, fishing or other passive uses.
Laguna Beach has said it will only opening its beaches for such use 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. on weekdays, and remain closed on weekends. San Clemente intends to be open 7 days a week, they say. In its deal with the state to reopen its shoreline, San Clemente pledged to break up mass congregations of people and allow only active uses of its beaches, while restricting parking to residents only and closing restrooms.
In Laguna Beach, where beaches have been closed since March, the city got permission to reopen beaches for active use only from 6 to 10 a.m. Mondays through Fridays. The county has control over Aliso Beach and other parts of the shoreline in southern part of the city.
"We appreciate the governor's willingness to work with us to provide a responsible, gradual approach to reopening all beaches in Laguna Beach for active recreation," Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen said. "This will allow people the opportunity to walk, jog, swim and surf and get some fresh air and exercise on a limited basis, but not congregate or gather in large groups."
The city has four phases in its reopening plans, with the next phase including expansion of hours on weekends.
In Newport Beach, Councilman Jeff Herdman, who represents Balboa Island, said the city submitted a plan to the state on Sunday in hopes of reopening.
"It's probably time to do that," Herdman said of reopening its beaches with a "partial access, continuous movement kind of thing on our beaches as opposed to leaving them closed."
Newport Beach City Councilman Kevin Muldoon, acting independently of the council, filed a federal lawsuit against the state's shutdown of the county beaches. Muldoon objects to a partial reopening of the beaches.
"Recreational use is disingenuous," Muldoon said. "From what I've heard from multiple people is they still want to sit down on a towel on the beach and relax. If they're practicing social distancing and outdoors where COVID is less likely to be transmitted I don't see the problem with them enjoying their beaches."
Muldoon told City News Service "the beach is a healthy place to be. Fresh air and exercise is good for you."
Newsom "has given cities no choice. He has said to Orange County coastal cities in no uncertain terms that `I am taking over your police powers and you're going to shut all your beaches down,"' Muldoon said. "That's done without any consultation beforehand—with the staff or elected officials in Newport Beach. He is putting law enforcement in a very uncomfortable situation. Orange County has the best law enforcement, I would argue, in the state and they're not interested in getting into confrontations with law-abiding citizens."
The Orange County Board of Supervisors, which oversees 16% of the county's shoreline, is set to debate the issue Tuesday and the board appears split on what to do.
Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, president of the California State Association of Counties, has been working behind the scenes since Friday on a compromise plan allowing for active-use on the beaches.
Bartlett said in the county, "We're going to see if we can put together the makings of a county plan, but I don' t know what direction where that will go."
Bartlett said it was important to approve some sort of access to the beaches, because, "I think it's best to have a consistent plan for our 42 miles of coastline."
Supervisor Don Wagner, however, took a more combative tone when addressing the issue in a call with reporters on Monday.
Wagner again accused the governor of "overreacting" to newspaper photographs of beachgoers during the recent heat wave, claiming the pictures were shot in a way that made it look as if people were ignoring physical distancing of six feet or more. Wagner pointed to drone photos taken by local police that he said more accurately represented social distancing on the beaches.
"Those are the photographs the governor should have looked at," Wagner said.
Supervisor Doug Chaffee said he favors a plan allowing for active use on the beaches.
"I want to get our residents some beach access and that's a step toward that," Chaffee said. "But the board is split and I can't tell you where it's going to go."
Chaffee said the reopening of the beaches shouldn't be "a political issue. Let's do the responsible thing and help each other out. I see probably on both parties they're trying to make a political issue out of it and I don't want to be on either side. I want to get it done and get it done right."
Supervisor Andrew Do said, "I appreciate the governor's latest action in inviting the county to collaborate and to work with the state on how to move forward. I agree with the governor that this should be a collaborative process."
City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.
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