Local community reporting is vital, so is your support.
Your donation, which powers our reporters and keep us independent, will be matched dollar for dollar today during our June Member drive.
Here's What Huntington Beach Looked Like On Saturday (Hint: Not Empty)
People walk on the beach, some wearing masks. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
In our morning briefing, Gina Pollack had some plain talk about what we witnessed Saturday:
It's topping 90-degrees. Most of us are on day 40-50 of quarantine (I counted 43, personally) and driveable access to beaches and wildflowers is probably one of the reasons a lot of us chose to live here in the first place.
But, look: Public health experts, doctors, mayors, governors -- all say the best way to beat this virus is to avoid contact with other people. And the best way to do that is to stay home.
Neighborhood walks? Sure. Runs? That's ok, too. But please, stop posting your poppy selfies on Instagram. At the very least, have a little discretion. When you tag your location, we can see you. We know you were there today for a picnic at 1 p.m. sitting all over those innocent flowers. And beach goers, we see you too.
It's like, we've been in line for 43 days, do you really want to get out of line and start over? DO YOU? Because when you get out of the line, we all have to get out of line.
Plus, let's be real. If we all crowd the beaches, then we're no better than Florida. And I for one, think we are better than Florida.
See what you think. Here's what Huntington Beach in Orange County looked like on Saturday:
Lifeguards in Huntington Beach expected tens of thousands of people to flock the beach this weekend due to the heat wave. Lifeguards and law enforcement are patrolling the beach to make sure people are keeping their distance. (Apu Gomes / AFP via Getty Images)
The afternoon fog on Saturday didn't seem to deter beachgoers. P(Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
The reflexion of lifeguard wearing a face mask surveying the beach is seen from her post. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
Mike Bennett wears a Patriot face mask on his mouth as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19 while skateboarding Saturday. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
(Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
Men play spike ball on the beach. (Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
Women wearing face masks sunbathe on the beach.(Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images)
Orange County officials -- who have called for non-local residents to stay away from the beaches there -- have warned that if beaches become too crowded to ensure public health, they will close them again.
ADDENDUM:
In case you were wondering what Sunday looked like, here's a shot of a path near the beach.
People ride bikes and walk on a path along the beach on April 26. (Michael Heiman/Getty Images)
UPDATES:
4 p.m.: This article was updated with photo from Sunday.
This article was originally published at 7 a.m.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS