Crime & Safety
Santa Cruz County Issues Warnings Ahead Of Memorial Day Weekend
Officials warn that people should avoid family gatherings and remind the public that beaches are off-limits from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — County officials are sounding the alarm about gatherings and beach visits ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
County health officials said in a Friday news release that four South County clusters have been linked to family gatherings. The number of Santa Cruz County residents who have tested positive for the coronavirus increased 20 percent last weekend.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office reminds the public that local beaches are still closed from the hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Visitors continue to flock to the area from the Bay Area, Central Valley and Sacramento, mistakenly thinking they are open, said sheriff's office spokesperson Ashley Keehn in an email. The order began May 2 and is in place indefinitely.
People may only cross the sands to surf, paddleboard, boogie board, swim or engage in other forms of exercise involving the ocean. Trails, sidewalks and parkways adjacent to beaches will remain open, as will non-beach areas of parks, the county said.
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Outside of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., beaches will remain open only for people engaging in exercise.
Any activities not related to exercise such as sunbathing, sightseeing and standing will remain off limits. Umbrellas, beach chairs, coolers, shade structures, tents, barbecues and other equipment are still prohibited, the county said.
California law dictates that violating an emergency order is punishable by a $1,000 fine and/or jail time.
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