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A Tale Of Two Counties: LA Beaches Are Closed And (Mostly) Empty. OC Not So Much
A beachgoer wearing gloves and a mask to protect from COVID-19 takes a selfie along a closed Ocean Front Walk on Thursday in Santa Monica, Calif. ( Richard Vogel/AP)
Beaches in L.A. County remain closed this weekend to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But the first heatwave of the year sent people to the coast anyway.
Leo Cebrowski and his daughter, Emilia, drove from Van Nuys to sit in a grassy area near the beach in Santa Monica. He told us:
"Like I even feel guilty for doing this but ... I need a little bit of a break."
"I was good until this week ... yeah, it just hit me really hard," he explained. "I kinda hit a wall."
The bike path and pier in Santa Monica are also closed and the city's police warn they will issue citations to people who sneak down to the sand, or congregate in groups.
Not everyone agrees with the measures.
Mewei Ren was practicing putting and chipping along Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. He was not happy the beach is closed.
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"We should be able to go and do whatever we want, whenever we want, at any time, especially in nature," he said.
Badrino Kochtane was toning his abs beneath a palm tree with his two five-month old puppies. He misses the beach, but what he really misses is Gold’s Gym in Venice.
"Every day, go to the gym, see all my friends, work out, say hi to everyone," Kochtane said. "The gym I miss so much."
Meanwhile in Orange County, beaches were open. And, well, this was the scene yesterday:
Apu Gomes / AFP via Getty Images)
READ MORE
- Here's What Huntington Beach Looked Like On Saturday (Hint: Not Empty)
- No Poppy Selfies This Year But You Can Watch Via Livestream
- Orange County Officials Ask Visitors To Stay Off The Beach
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