Encinitas Reopens Moonlight Beach After Coronavirus Closure

ENCINITAS, CA — The city of Encinitas reopened Moonlight Beach Monday after the coastline was closed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The beach reopened at 8 a.m. for walking, running and all water activities except boating, according to city spokesman Patrick Piatt. The Encinitas City Council decided to reopen the beach during a special meeting Sunday.

Public gatherings are still prohibited, according to San Diego County's ongoing health order. Beachgoers must also continue to practice social distancing. Additionally, city officials encouraged people to wear face coverings, which become mandatory countywide on May 1.

If orders are violated, the beach may be re-closed, officials said.

Boundaries of the beach will be dictated by the tides. For the public's safety, Piatt said they will be marked with black-and-white checkered flags at the north and south ends.

The decision to only reopen Moonlight Beach came down to social distancing, Piatt said.

"All the other access points are view stairways that are roughly 4 feet wide and social distancing is not feasible," he said.

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The council's special meeting was scheduled in response to the County Health Department's announcement Friday that ocean activities would be allowed again starting Monday.

The county's order left the decision of beach closures to the cities. The order does not apply to state parks and beaches.

"The cities did not get any warning regarding the announcement," officials said. "The initial strategy was to have a collaborative approach across the region. The county's unilateral action caught most cities off guard and the collaborative, uniform beach opening across the region will not be happening on Monday, April 27."

In Phase 1 of the draft proposal, all water activity, including swimming, surfing, paddling and kayaking will be allowed. Walking or running on the beach will also be allowed.

"No gatherings of any kind on the beaches," the draft states. "No stopping, standing, sitting or lying down and no chairs, blankets, coolers or anything stationary. No games or sports on the beach."

All beach parking lots will be closed and parking on Coast Highway will be prohibited, according to the draft.

"Law enforcement will closely monitor adherence to the County of San Diego Public Health order prohibiting gatherings."

In Phase 2, an intermediate phase with no date to begin scheduled, the entire beach will be opened to all activity without restrictions.

On Saturday, three people were arrested and cited at Moonlight Beach for violating the stay-at-home order and gathering on a closed beach, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

The arrests happened during a protest rally against beach closures and the stay-at-home order.

Also see:

• California Coronavirus: Latest Updates On Cases, Orders, Closures
• Coronavirus In Encinitas: Latest News
• Some San Diego County Beaches Reopen After Coronavirus Closures
• San Diego County Makes Face Coverings Mandatory: Coronavirus
• San Diego County To Open Ocean Access: Coronavirus
• San Diego Residents Urged To 'Stay The Course' Following Protests
• 7 More Deaths As Coronavirus Cases Surpass 2,000 In San Diego
• Coronavirus Cases Surpass 1,000 Milestone In San Diego County
• Face Coverings Urged As Coronavirus Cases Rise In San Diego
• San Diego Authorities To Crack Down On Stay-At-Home Violators

Patch editor Kristina Houck and City News Service contributed to this report.