Newport Beach City Council Approves July 4 Closure Of All City Beaches

Press release from the City of Newport Beach:

At an Emergency Meeting on July 1, the City Council approved a full closure of all City beaches in Newport Beach on Saturday, July 4, after two seasonal lifeguards tested positive for COVID-19. The beaches will close at 10 p.m. on July 3 and reopen at 6 a.m. on July 5. The Council vote also gives City Manager Grace Leung authority to close the beaches on July 3 and/or July 5 if it is deemed necessary.

Two seasonal lifeguards employed by the City have tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracing confirmed that an addtional 21 lifeguards were exposed; they have all been referred for follow-up care, which may include testing and quarantining. Concerns over the number of exposed lifeguards prompted Mayor Will O’Neill to call a special Council meeting Wednesday.

The July 4 closure includes beach areas and amenities such as the Oceanfront Boardwalk and Newport Pier. While the majority of beach parking lots will also close, some spaces will remain open for business and restaurant activity.

The Council’s action followed a number of other closures announced Wednesday by the County of Orange and Governor Newsom’s office, including the closures of:

• Indoor and Outdoor Bars
• Indoor Dine-in Restaurants
• Indoor Wineries and Tasting Rooms
• Indoor Family Entertainment Centers
• Indoor Movie Theaters
• Indoor Zoos and Museums
• Indoor Cardrooms

This press release was produced by the City of Newport Beach. The views expressed here are the author’s own.