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No, Crowded Beaches And Trails Do Not Equal ‘Social Distancing’
People walk on the beach 20 minutes after Gov. Newson ordered people to stay home last week. Some local beaches and trails reportedly remained busy through the weekend despite the orders. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
The sun was out this weekend, and so were the people — in spite of broad stay-at-home orders from state and local governments.
The city of Malibu says it had reports of crowded beaches and hiking trails.
Angelenos also flocked to Santa Monica to escape their cabin fever. In response, the city has closed beach parking lots and advised people to avoid the beach and the beach bike path.
“Today is not the day to go to the beach,” said Santa Monica City Manager Rick Cole in a statement. “We urge our residents to avoid any public spaces where social distancing is a challenge.”
The Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced it would close all of its parks and trails, including the parks owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. MRCA manages more than 75,000 acres of parks and public space.
SOME STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT COVID-19
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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