Beaches Remain Open In Coronado, Oceanside Despite Coronavirus

OCEANSIDE, CA — Although most beaches were closed this week in San Diego County in an effort to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, beaches in Coronado and Oceanside remained open Wednesday.

Both cities closed playgrounds and public beach parking lots on Monday, but neither city has officially closed its coastline as long as beachgoers maintain a physical distance of 6 feet from people who are not a part of their household.

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates in San Diego County. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

The county amended a previous public health order on Monday to include the authority to close beaches and parks if municipalities are unable or unwilling to enforce social distancing rules recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The announcement was made after gatherings larger than 10 people have been spotted at local beaches.

"We encourage outdoor exercise as long as people maintain 6 feet of social distancing," said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county's public health officer. "It looks like people are not able to do that."

Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, San Diego and Solana Beach closed their beaches, trails and parks on Monday.

On Tuesday, Imperial Beach and the Port of San Diego announced similar closures. The Port of San Diego closed public parks around San Diego Bay, including beaches, parking lots, piers, and boat launches.

Related coverage:

• Beaches Closed From Carlsbad To San Diego Due To Coronavirus
• 2nd Coronavirus Death, 2 Infant Cases In San Diego County
• Supervisors Put Moratorium On Evictions For Residents, Small Businesses
• Listen To Stay-Home, Social-Distance Mandates: San Diego County Sheriff
• California Coronavirus: Live Updates On Cases, Closures, Orders

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