The Tanzanian archipelago of Zanzibar is paradise defined: there are powdery white sand beaches, swaying palms, and the brilliant blue waters of the Indian Ocean, begging a dip. But the semi-autonomous region, which has long lured curious travelers, has a depth in its history and culture that are the true reason for repeat visits.

Also known as Spice Island, Zanzibar was once an important trading hub for traders from mainland Africa, India, and the Arab Peninsula, and that unique mix of influences can now be seen in everything from the food served, to the islands religious beliefs and architecture. In recent years, the pairing of that cultural strongholdwhich is so notably different from that of Tanzania properwith a new swath of chic, barefoot resorts has brought the destination even more buzz than in the past. As Zanzibar evolves, a new volume from Assouline celebrates the many reasons to fawn over the archipelago, with vintage photos, a look inside pilgrimage-worthy stays, and dazzling portraits of the Zanzibaris who make it the place that it is. Below are some of the images, pulled from the book, that are inspiring our future trips.

Go here to read the rest:

11 Stunning Photos of Zanzibar's Beaches and Architecture - Cond Nast Traveler

Restrictions on outdoor activity were loosened in Bay Area health orders announced on April 29. In San Francisco, for example, its fine under the latest orders, which take effect May 4, to take transit to go to a park, where the city previously asked people to limit recreation to places they could walk or bike to. But its still confusing to know where you can go outside and what you can do there.

The Bay Area has more than 20 agencies and districts that manage more than 150 recreation destinations. Each works with its own county health department to set guidelines independently of other counties, park districts and watersheds. That leads to a patchwork of rules that differ everywhere you go. Heres what you need to know about getting outdoors in Northern California.

Q: Where are the rules the most open?

A: Irrespective of the governors desires, Modoc County, in the remote northeast section of California, relaxed its stay-at-home orders. Modoc has no positive tests for coronavirus in a population of about 9,000 people that spans 4,200 square miles. The only thing not open in Modoc are Forest Service campgrounds, likely to open in mid-May.

Q: Where are the rules the tightest?

A: Yosemite National Park and many other national parks remain shut down to all visitor access because of the potential of clustering and violating the 6-foot rule for social distancing. In recent years with good-weather springs, such as this year, visitor numbers can top 5 million; in Yosemite Valley on any summer day, 20,000 people can crowd in five square miles.

Q: When will campgrounds open?

A: 1,500 campgrounds on 100 Forest Service districts at lakes, streams and trailheads in California, Oregon and Washington will start opening in mid-May through June, based on the county and location. Now is the time to dream and plan. At state and national parks, and other sites where where people may cluster, the dates will likely be delayed until June, or when county health departments clear the activity by site. Size of groups will likely be restricted per site.

Q: As parks open, will there be special rules?

A: Parks will likely phase in openings with special rules that will include restrictions on group size, parking and requirements to carry masks or other face coverings. Sonoma County parks opened in late April, for instance, with rules where visitors are required to walk or bike to parks, and when on trails or fishing from shore (at Spring Lake) are required to carry masks and put them on when encountering others.

Q: When on the trail, what do you do when you come across others?

A: Hike only with people you live with. All trail users should carry a face covering. Put it on when encountering others. When you meet others, mountain bikers give way to horses and hikers, and hikers give way to horses. The one exception is on a hill, where a hiker sailing downhill should always give way to a mountain biker going uphill, grinding it out at 2 mph.

Q: Why are some boat ramps open and others closed?

An earlier version of this article did not specify when the latest health orders become effective. The Bay Area orders take effect May 4.

A: With different agencies and different rules, its been a piecemeal approach where the left hand doesnt know what the right hand is doing. Boat ramps are open at marinas in Berkeley and Richmond. Yet other harbor districts shut down their boat ramps, including Oyster Point in South San Francisco, Coyote Point in San Mateo, Loch Lomond in San Rafael, and Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay. On the Petaluma River, the ramp in Petaluma is open, yet the ramp just downstream at Black Point is closed. The result: same river, different counties and different results.

In the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, public boat ramps are closed and private boat ramps are open. It is likely boat ramp openings will be phased in through mid-June.

Q: What major recreation lakes have the least restrictions?

A: At giant Shasta Lake north of Redding, virtually everything is open that is, other than Forest Service campgrounds, which likely will open after May 15. Sugarloaf Resort, for instance, sold out its cabin rentals in late April. The water temperature is 64 degrees, still cold for water sports, but will likely enter the low 70s by Memorial Day weekend. Others that are open are Lake Amador near Ione, Bullards Bar near Camptonville, Trinity north of Weaverville and Almanor at Chester. Others are likely to reopen soon.

Q: What destinations have the least restrictions?

A: State Wildlife Areas provide access to large areas where you can break free for fitness and nature, and stay safe. The best for this include Grizzly Island Wildlife Area near Suisun City, with a driving tour on a levee road that provides access to trailheads, and the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area with best access by kayak to a matrix of rivers and sloughs at high tides.

Q: Why do I have to stay home in San Mateo when my brother in Walnut Creek says he can go anywhere he wants?

A: In San Mateo County, trails reopened in 13 of 23 parks, but access is restricted to within 10 miles of a persons residence, regardless of whether you live in the county. The countys health department set these rules after rangers observed severe clustering (before the parks were shut down). In the East Bay, guidelines are set by East Bay Parks in concert with the health officers in Contra Costa and Alameda counties; closures have been ordered for parts of 25 of 73 East Bay parks.

Q: What major recreation lakes have the most restrictions?

A: Lake Tahoe, Clear, Berryessa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Don Pedro, New Melones, Folsom, Collins and Jenkinson are closed. Each is managed by a different agency. As a result, each will open according to its own unique set of parameters, in conjunction with the respective health officer for that county. Most are expected to open by Memorial Day weekend or shortly after.

Q: When will I be able to hike and camp in wilderness?

A: The U.S. Forest Service and national parks are not issuing wilderness permits at this time. That will likely change in early June, as trailheads open up, snow melts off and trails clear in the most remote high country wilderness areas, and county health officers give the all-clear. At high-density areas, including Yosemite, Whitney, Sequoia-Kings Canyon, and Desolation at Tahoe, where trailhead quotas are established and where there is a higher chance of clustering, there is no projection when trailheads might open and permits will be issued or honored this summer.

Q: Where is the most remote wilderness with the least chance of seeing others on the trail, even if you write about it?

A: The South Warner Wilderness in eastern Modoc County.

Q: Is RV camping considered safe?

A: Most county health officers are considering it safe to camp in self-contained RVs, trailers, fifth wheels and cab-over campers, where you can park, eat and sleep without breaking the 6-foot bubble with other campers. Some RV parks in the rural north state started opening on May 1. A good summer appears ahead. The one area to stay clear of is Highway 1, where parks and camps get packed, and closures could linger well into summer until county health officials give sites the thumbs up.

Q: When will party boats start fishing trips again?

A: The consensus for fishing operations based out of San Francisco Bay is that trips for salmon, striped bass, halibut or rockfish will start roughly when restaurants start reopening. A group of anglers at the back of a party boat is similar to a group of people in a restaurant.

Q: Can I go surfing at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz?

A: The temporary order that banned out-of-town visitors to Santa Cruz has been partially lifted. Beaches are again open, including at the famous break at Steamer, but only for surfing and similar activities. The county has closed all of its beaches from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in an effort to keep crowds from gathering on the sand and violating social distancing rules. Surfers, swimmer and other people engaged in water activities are allowed to cross the sand to the water but nobody is allowed to loiter or linger. Sitting and sunbathing arent allowed. See http://www.cityofsantacruz.com for more information.

Q: How will officials keep all the city people away from the coast?

A: A lack of recreation outlets at inland parks in the Bay Area on good weather weekends has caused many from cities to drive over to the coast and clog Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Stinson Beach and Point Reyes Station. Parking and vehicle access is banned at all state beaches, county beaches and at Point Reyes National Seashore. That squeezes visitors into small coastal towns. The best projection is that parking and access to beaches will be phased in over a series of stages, similar to how San Diego County opened its beaches.

Q: When will Bay Area lakes reopen?

A: Water districts, working with county health officers, closed San Pablo, Los Vaqueros, Del Valle, Lafayette and Loch Lomond reservoirs, among others, to all access. These closures came at the height of the spring fishing season, when anglers might cluster on shore. No reopening dates have been set. They may occur after water temperatures warm, trout stocks are done for the year and visitor use is projected to be light.

Q: When will the Eastern Sierra open to fishing?

A: The trout season was postponed in Inyo, Mono and Alpine counties, and parts of Sierra County, through May 31. It will likely be reopened after Memorial Day weekend, when the chance for large crowds and clustering is lessened.

Q: Will state parks be the last to reopen?

A: Yes, along with national parks where visitor use is high and groups tend to cluster. State parks report directly to the governor, who has kept tight wraps on access: All roads, parking, camping and picnic sites are closed at all 280 state parks and beaches. At the 50 state parks in the greater Bay Area, Bean Hollow, Butano, Portola Redwoods and San Gregorio State Beach in San Mateo County, and Castle Rock, Big Basin Redwoods and Santa Cruz Mission in Santa Cruz County are closed 100 percent.

Q: In rural areas, how do people react to out-of-towners?

A: It doesnt matter where you are from. Act like an idiot, you get treated like one. Keep a face mask handy, wear it when you leave your car and keep your distance, just like you would do no matter when you live. Rural people loathe fast city drivers lost in their self-absorbed bubbles.

Tom Stienstra is The Chronicles outdoor writer. Email: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @StienstraTom.

Excerpt from:

Whats open outdoors? Parks, trails and beaches to visit during shelter in place - San Francisco Chronicle

NEWPORT BEACH (CBSLA) City of Newport Beach officials are disputing allegations that their beaches were overcrowded this past weekend amid news that the governor plans to close all beaches beginning Friday amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The overwhelming majority of Newport Beach residents and visitors were families or practicing social distancing, the Newport Beach police and fire departments said in a joint statement Thursday morning.

Police officers and lifeguards who patrolled the seven-mile stretch of beaches determined that while some clusters of people were not following physical distancing guidelines, the vast majority were, the agencies said.

Furthermore, to try and bolster their point, they released aerial photos from a police helicopter that were taken at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, the peak day of attendance.

The Newport Beach City Council voted Tuesday against a proposal to close its beaches for the next three weekends.

However, that vote may not matter. According to a memo obtained by CBS News, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to announce the closure of all beaches and state parks effective Friday.

The order comes after Newsom, earlier this week, scolded the thousands of people who descended on beaches in Orange and Ventura counties during the weekend heat wave.

The images down in Orange County and Ventura County, on our beaches, those images are an example of what not to see, Newsom said Monday.

This virus doesnt take the weekends off, he added. This virus doesnt go home because its a beautiful, sunny day.

While beaches in L.A. County from Malibu to the South Bay were closed and empty over the weekend, the coastline of the cities of Port Hueneme, Huntington Beachand Newport Beach were quite the opposite, drawing thousands of visitors.

Huntington Beach police Sunday echoed Newport Beach police, tweeting that the majority of our beach goers are complying to social distancing.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Laguna Beach City Council Tuesday voted to reopen its beaches on weekday mornings only, from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., beginning May 4.

See the article here:

Newport Beach Officials Release Photos Disputing That Their Beaches Were Overcrowded - CBS Los Angeles

"Planet of the Humans" by the end of April had more than 4.7 million views and fairly high scores at the movie critic review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The documentary has received glowing reviews from numerous climate "deniers" whose names are familiar to those in the climate community, including Steve Milloy, Marc Morano, and James Delingpole. Some environmentalists who have seen the movie are beginning to oppose wind and solar projects that are absolutely necessary to slow climate change.

The film by these two "progressive" filmmakers may succeed where Fox News and right-wing talk radio have failed: to undermine humanity's last best hope for positive change. As energy journalist Ketan Joshi wrote, the film is "selling far-right, climate-denier myths from nearly a decade ago to left-wing environmentalists in the 2020s."

The film follows Gibbs as he visits various green technology sites in the United States and ostensibly learns that each one is just as bad as the fossil fuel infrastructure that it would replace. Unfortunately, the movie is littered with misleading, skewed, and outdated scenes.

"Planet of the Humans"' approach is fundamentally flawed Gibbs focuses almost exclusively on the imperfections of technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, biomass, and electric cars without considering their ability to reduce carbon and other pollutants. The film suggests that because no source of energy is perfect, all are bad, thus implying that the very existence of human civilization is the problem while offering little in the way of alternative solutions.

A Badly Outdated Portrait of Solar and Wind

In an interview with Reuters, Michael Moore summarized the premise of the film: "I assumed solar panels would last forever. I didn't know what went into the making of them."

It's true. Solar panels and wind turbines don't last forever (though they do last several decades), and like every other industrial product, they require mining and manufacturing of raw materials. Sadly, that's about as deep as the film delves into quantifying the environmental impacts of renewable energy versus fossil fuels. In fact, the misinformation in the film is at times much worse than ignorance.

In one scene, author and film co-producer Ozzie Zehner falsely asserts, "You use more fossil fuels [manufacturing renewables infrastructure] than you're getting benefit from. You would have been better off burning the fossil fuels in the first place instead of playing pretend."

That's monumentally wrong. A 2017 study in Nature Energy found that when accounting for manufacturing and construction, the lifetime carbon footprints of solar, wind, and nuclear power are about 20 times smaller than those of coal and natural gas, even when the latter include expensive carbon capture and storage technology. The energy produced during the operation of a solar panel and wind turbine is 26 and 44 times greater than the energy needed to build and install them, respectively. There are many life-cycle assessment studies arriving at similar conclusions.

The film's case is akin to arguing that because fruit contains sugar, eating strawberries is no healthier than eating a cheesecake.

It's true that the carbon footprint of renewable energy is not zero. But the film somehow fails to mention that it's far lower than the fossil fuel alternatives, instead falsely suggesting (with zero supporting evidence) that renewables are just as bad. The closest defense of that argument comes when Zehner claims that wind and solar energy cannot displace coal, and instead retired coal power plants are being replaced by even larger natural gas plants.

In reality, coal power generation in the U.S. has declined by about half (over 1 trillion kilowatt-hours) over the past decade, and it's true that natural gas has picked up about two-thirds of that slack (670 kWh). But growth in renewables has accounted for the other one-third (370 kWh). As a result, power sector carbon emissions in the U.S. have fallen by one-third since 2008 and continue to decline steadily. In fact, electricity is the only major sector in the U.S. that's achieving significant emissions reductions.

It's true that natural gas is a fossil fuel. To reach zero emissions, it must be replaced by renewables with storage and smart grids. But thus far the path to grid decarbonization in the U.S. has been a success story that the film somehow portrays as a failure. Moreover, that decarbonization could be accelerated through policies like pricing carbon pollution, but the film does not once put a single second of thought into policy solutions.

In perhaps its most absurd scene, Gibbs and Zehner visit a former solar facility in Daggett, California, built in the mid-1980s and replaced 30 years later. Gazing upon the sand-covered landscape of the former facility, Gibbs declares in an ominous tone, "It suddenly dawned on me what we were looking at: a solar dead zone."

Daggett is located in the Mojave Desert. Sand is the natural landscape. Solar farms don't create dead zones; in fact, some plants thrive under the shade provided by solar panels.

It suddenly dawned on me how hard the film was trying to portray clean energy in a negative light.

A Shallow Dismissal of Electric Vehicles

In another science, Gibbs travels to a General Motors facility in Lansing, Michigan, circa 2010, as GM showcased its then-new Chevy Volt plug-in electric hybrid vehicle. Gibbs interviews a representative from the local municipal electric utility provider, who notes that they generate 95% of their supply by burning coal, and that the power to charge the GM facility's EVs will not come from renewables in the near future.

That is the full extent of the discussion of EVs in the film. Viewers are left to assume that because these cars are charged by burning coal, they're just greenwashing. In reality, because of the high efficiency of electric motors, an electric car charged entirely by burning coal still produces less carbon pollution than an internal combustion engine car (though more than a hybrid). The U.S. Department of Energy has a useful tool for comparing carbon emissions between EVs, plug-in hybrids, conventional hybrids, and gasoline-powered cars for each state. In Michigan, on average, EVs are the cleanest option of all, as is the case for the national average power grid. In West Virginia, with over 90% electricity generated from coal, hybrids are the cleanest option, but EVs are still cleaner than gasoline cars.

In short, EVs are an improvement over gasoline-powered cars everywhere, and their carbon footprints will continue to shrink as renewables expand to supply more of the power grid.

A Valid Critique of Wood Biomass

The film devotes a half hour to the practice of burning trees for energy. That's one form of biomass, which also includes burning wood waste, garbage, and biofuels. Last year, 1% of U.S. electricity was generated by burning wood, but it accounted for 30% of the film run time.

In fairness, Europe is a different story, where wood biomass accounts for around 5% of electricity generation, and which imports a lot of wood chips from America. It's incentivized because the European Union considers burning wood to be carbon neutral, and it can thus be used to meet climate targets. That's because new trees can be planted to replace those removed, and the EU assumes the wood being burned would have decayed and released its stored carbon anyway.

There are numerous problems with those assumptions, one of which is unavoidable: time. Burning trees is close to carbon neutral once a replacement tree grows to sufficient maturity to recapture the lost carbon, but that takes many decades. In the meantime, the carbon released into the atmosphere accelerates the climate crisis at a time when slashing emissions is increasingly urgent. That's why climate scientists are increasingly calling on policymakers to stop expanding this practice. So has 350.org founder Bill McKibben since 2016, despite his depiction in the film as a villainous proponent of clearcutting forests to burn for energy.

It's complicated, but the carbon footprint of biomass depends on where the wood comes from. Burning waste (including waste wood) as biomass that would decay anyway is justifiable, but also generally only practical at a relatively small scale. A more detailed investigation of the wood biomass industry could make for a worthwhile documentary. It's still a small-time player, but it does need to stay that way.

The Bottom Line

Gibbs asks, "Is it possible for machines made by industrial civilization to save us from industrial civilization?"

Why not? Industrial civilization has a non-zero climate and environmental footprint, but the impact of green technologies like EVs, wind turbines, and solar panels is much smaller than the alternatives. They represent humanity's best chance to avoid a climate catastrophe.

The filmmakers call for an end to limitless economic growth and consumption. It's difficult to envision that goal being achieved anytime soon, but even if it is, human civilization will continue to exist and require energy. To avert a climate crisis, that energy must be supplied by the clean renewable technologies pilloried in the film. To expand on the earlier analogy, the filmmakers seem to believe we should improve nutrition not by eating healthier foods like strawberries, but rather by eating a bit less cheesecake.

Like Fox News and other propaganda vehicles, the film presents one biased perspective via carefully chosen voices, virtually all of whom are comfortable white men. It applies an environmental purity test that can seem convincing for viewers lacking expertise in the topic. Any imperfect technology which is every technology is deemed bad. It's a clear example of the perfect being the enemy of the good. In reality, this movie is the enemy of humanity's last best chance to save itself and countless other species from unchecked climate change through a transition to cleaner technologies.

Related Articles Around the Web

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Deserted Thai Beaches Lure Rare Turtles to Build Most Nests in 20 Years - EcoWatch

Maines most popular state parks will remain closed until at least June 1 under a new executive order from Gov. Janet Mills that aims to reopen the states economy in stages while guarding against the spread of the coronavirus.

The parks, mostly located along the states central and southern coasts, are tourist hot spots with some of the largest beaches in northern New England.

The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands released a detailed list Wednesday of the coastal state parks. The parks were first closed March 27 because of concerns that visitors were not following guidelines for social distancing as outlined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Overcrowding at those parks when they were open made it increasingly difficult for the public to implement appropriate physical distancing, Jim Britt, a spokesman for the Bureau of Parks and Lands, said Wednesday. As a result, the department closed those select coastal parks and beaches and is monitoring visitation at all state parks.

The closed parks and sites are:Reid State Park,Popham Beach State Park,Fort Popham,Fort Baldwin,Kettle Cove State Park,Two Lights State Park,Crescent Beach State Park,Scarborough Beach State Park,Ferry Beach State Park andMackworth Island.

Several southern Maine municipalities with public beaches have also closed them in response to the pandemic. In March, the towns of Wells, Ogunquit, Kittery and York all announced their beaches would be closed to the public after crowding there fueled concerns that visitors would spread the virus.

Maine has 48 state parks and historic sites, and visitation surged at parks that remained open for day use following the earlier closure of the beach parks.

Mills on Tuesday announced a plan to gradually reopen the state. It includes opening state parks and public lands for day use only, but noted that most of the states coastal parks would remain shuttered until at least June 1 and possibly longer if the number of COVID-19 cases in Maine surges again or the severity of cases becomes worse.

Closing any of our state parks is the last thing we want to do, Britt said. We are keeping as many parks as possible open, and we encourage people to look for ways to take much-needed breaks in the outdoors that allow them to avoid crowded places and maintain physical distancing.

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Maine's most popular parks and beaches to remain closed - Press Herald

The towns had planned for a meeting in March, but it was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

MARSHFIELD Before the coronavirus pandemic, Marshfield Planning Director Greg Guimond and his Duxbury counterpart planned a public presentation and meeting in March for a plan for beach nourishment by dumping sand on and near beaches to prevent further erosion and protect the seawalls.

The pandemic ended any possibility of an in-person gathering in March. Public hearings will still happen, whether in person or virtually, but first Marshfield and Duxbury are planning an informational meeting, without real-time public input, to clear the way for a public hearing.

The meeting will be streamed online, Monday morning from 9 to 10:15 a.m., on both the Marshfield and Duxbury community television websites, and then made available anytime via either website.

Guimond said the presentation will be lead by Leslie Fields, of the Woods Hole Group.

"It's mostly Leslie with, here's where we are, here are the facts and here are the next steps," Guimond said.

Before and after the presentation, Guimond and Duxbury Town Planner Valerie Massard will answer resident's questions via email.

"It's more of us trying to get info out to the public," Guimond said. "We want to make the public as informed as possible up until the point we have a public hearing."

The grant for the design and permitting of the beach and dune nourishment projects came from the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management, with a deadline in June, and the project has not received an extension. Holding public hearings is one of the requirements.

"When we get to those public hearings, we want them to go smoother," Guimond said.

How those eventual public hearings will happen, and if they will be online, in person, or a combination of the two, is up in the air, but public hearings provide a more rich experience to judge the public's response, he said.

"It's very useful, on our side, because we got immediate reactions and on the public's side, they felt like we heard them," Guimond said. "The Zoom remote hearings, they're difficult to get the true sense of where people are on things. That is a very difficult read."

Holding only digital hearings would pose a very real problem for participation, he said.

"If everyone wants to interact at a hearing, that would probably be 500 people," he said.

Massard and Guimond said beach nourishment is important because it prolongs the life of the seawalls.

"All of it's expensive, but we're trying to make the best use of public money," Massard said.

She said 260 houses are directly impacted because they are protected by the seawall.

Seawalls in Marshfield and Duxbury both failed in 2018 during powerful storms, crumbling into the ocean.

Guimond said the meeting is to help the public understand that beach nourishment is a lengthy and expensive process and it will require easements from property owners.

"A lot of things have gone off people's radars at the moment," he said.

Wheeler Cowperthwaite can be reached at wcowperthwaite@patriotledger.com.

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Marshfield and Duxbury look to shore up beaches with beach nourishment plan - The Patriot Ledger

These individuals, from six to 95-year-old, fought the coronavirus and won. USA TODAY

Statesacross the country took steps this weekend to relaxsocial distancing,particularly restrictionsthat were keeping people from exercising outdoors.

Access to beaches, parks, golf courses, boat rampsand more is on the rise across the country, even as leaders warn that restrictions could come back if coronavirus cases spike. These hintsof normalcy come alongside grim reminders of the seriousness of the health crisis: the iconicKentucky Derby has been rescheduledfor the first time since World War II, possibletherapies for the virus are still experimental, and the death toll continues to climb.

Our live blog is being updated throughout the day. Refresh for the latest news, and get updates in your inbox with The Daily Briefing.

Here are the most important developments of the day:

In other news: You may have heard about something called a "Murder Hornet" being spotted in the U.S.It's real. You should not panic.

A question you might have: Are researchers working on ultraviolet light 'treatment' for COVID-19? Here's our fact-check on the topic.

California authorities pleaded for beachgoers to follow social distancing rules over the weekend after Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday temporarily shuttered Orange Countys coastline,a move he said was prompted by overcrowded beaches last weekend.

At least in some places, officials were pleased with results. In San Diego, where people can exercise on the beach but not linger, Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer praised residents for heeding safety restrictions that public health officials have credited at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

But even as Newsom and others seek a cautious, phased reopening of the state, protesters dont want to wait.In Huntington Beach, police estimated 2,500 to 3,000 people gathered for May Day on a beachside street. They waved American flags and held signs. Most of them wore no masks and didnt practice social distancing.

In Sacramento, as police lined steps outside the Capitol, protesters waved signs that said Defend Freedom and broke into U-S-A chants.

A similar situation played out in various states on the East Coast on Saturday.

State and county parks were allowed to reopen in New Jersey, and park-goer Lisa Hoffman was among those enjoying the reprieve:"I felt like I was let out of prison today," Hoffman said. "If they have to do this slowly, I'm okay with that. But we need to move forward."

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he was pleased with initial reports of social distancing from a beachfront park, state parks and some golf courses that also reopened.

Joel Shannon,Mike Davis

The mayor of an Oklahoma city amended a face mask requirement Friday afterbusinesses reported employees being physically threatened by patrons who didn't want to wear masks.

According to theStillwater News Press, Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce said the order had to be changed after just three hours.

"In the short time beginning on May 1, 2020, that face coverings have been required for entry into stores/restaurants, store employees have been threatened with physical violence and showered with verbal abuse," Joyce said. "In addition, there has been one threat of violence using a firearm. This has occurred in three short hours and in the face of clear medical evidence that face coverings helps contain the spread of COVID-19."

More than30 gravely ill patients who took part in an experimentaltreatment for COVID-19at Houston Methodist Research Institute have recovered from the illness and have left the hospital, the physician overseeing the therapy said Friday.

"All of these people were very, very sick," Dr. James A. Musser, chairman of the department of pathology and genomic medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital, said in a phone interview. "Many of them were on ventilators. That was the common theme."

It cannot be said with certainty the treatment, in whichplasma donated by people who had fully recoveredfrom the illness caused by the coronavirus is injected into those still sick, was responsible for recoveries, Musser said. But it appears to be a hopeful sign, he added.

Experts are still seeking to determine the types of patients who appeared to have benefited from the therapy and thetypes who did not.

John C Moritz

Workers face 'uphill battle' proving firms liable if they catch COVID-19 as economy reopens. Read more.

Ohio's loosening of stay-at-home orders Friday represents Gov. Mike DeWine's cautious approach, starting with an easing of rules for hospitals, dentists and veterinarians, followed Monday withthe opening of construction and manufacturing. Retail and customer service shops will remain shuttered until May 12.

Meanwhile, to usher in the first ofMay, more than a dozen states like Louisiana and Colorado have allowed restaurants, storesor some other business to reopen, but under tightrestrictionsto keep people apart.Find the latest on your state here.

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Coronavirus live updates: Outdoor access on the rise, virus rates vary between neighborhoods - USA TODAY

Most Honolulu city parks re-opened on Saturday after being shut down by Mayor Kirk Caldwell back on March 21.

At 5 a.m. caution tape and no parking signs were lifted and parking lots re-opened to the public.

However, what you can do at a park and beach park remains limited.

*At 2:30 p.m., on Saturday, April 25, Governor David Ige announced he had re-opened state beaches for exercise use only.

Governor Ige closed all state beaches last week due to the fact people continued to congregate and not follow proper social distancing guidelines. Others continued to sit on the beach, which has not been allowed for over one month.

No one is allowed to sunbathe, read a book, set up a towel, chair, or congregate with others on any beach in the state.

State and county officials emphasized that people must be moving (walking, running, jogging) on the beach or they can be cited by police.

As long as theyre not gathering or standing around, lying on the beach, or sitting on the beach, explained Michele Nekota, Director of Parks and Recreation for City and County of Honolulu. They have to be walking, running or jogging or biking of course on the proper path.

The same rules apply for parks in Honolulu. No one can sit down on a bench or have a picnic. People may only walk through the park to go to the bathroom or get to the ocean.

Honolulu police provides enforcement for the parks and I wouldnt be able to answer exactly what they would be doing, but theyre going to be around and monitoring and enforcing the parks, said Nekota.

KHON2 spoke to Melanie Vanepps, a 12-year-old Honolulu resident, who said she was happy to finally be outside again.

She told KHON2 that she hopes others follow the rules so parks dont have to shut down again.

You have to stay six feet away from people, and you cant stand still on the beach, she said.

If they keep not following it then more cases are going to go up, and we are not going to be allowed to walk in the parks anymore. And Ill be stuck in the house all day again, she said.

With beach parks open once again, Honolulu Ocean Safety are also back in their towers. Theyll be working their normal hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Playgrounds, off-leash dog parks, campgrounds, sporting activities (soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis etc.), gyms, pools, skateparks and recreation buildings remain closed.

Hanauma Bay and Koko Head shooting complex are also closed.

State parks that have re-opened (for exercise purposes only) include but are not limited to, Polihale State Park on Kauai, Makena State Park on Maui, Malaekahana and Kaena State Park on Oahu.

Ocean activities like surfing, swimming and stand-up paddle boarding are allowed.

Everyone is to continue social distancing while on the beach and in parks.

Go here to read the rest:

City parks and state beaches re-open for exercise only - KHON2

As a heat wave bears down on Southern California, San Clemente plans to reopen city-owned beaches this weekend.

The beaches, along with coastal waters and trails, had been closed since April 8 in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Orange County public health officials had reported 43 COVID-19 patients in San Clemente as of Thursday.

San Clementes City Council voted Tuesday night to begin the process of reopening the citys beaches, which will be available for active use only, such as walking, running, swimming and surfing, officials said. Sunbathers are not welcome.

You cant bring your beach chair or your umbrella, set up for the day and spend the afternoon there, said Erik Sund, assistant city manager.

Representatives of the city and the Orange County Sheriffs Department will be posted at the beaches to ensure that people follow the rules and maintain social distancing, he said.

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Zuma Beach Closed: Lifeguard towers sit on an empty Zuma Beach in Malibu. (Brian van der Brug/Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

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Broad Beach Closed: Beachgoers walk on Broad Beach in Malibu. To fend off coronavirus contagion, Los Angeles County has kept beaches closed. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

3/26

Zuma Beach Closed: Nets were removed to foil beach volleyball players at Zuma Beach in Malibu. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

4/26

Corral Beach Closed: Los Angeles County lifeguards ask a couple to leave Corral Beach in Malibu. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

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Venice Beach Closed: Beachgoers enjoy the sun and sand along the boardwalk in Venice Beach. Southern California beaches are expected to draw crowds this weekend as an early heat wave hits its peak on Saturday and Sunday, even though much of the shoreline remains closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Venice Beach Closed: The setting sun casts a dark golden hue over everything. Southern California beaches are expected to draw crowds this weekend as an early heat wave hits its peak on Saturday and Sunday, even though much of the shoreline remains closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Venice Beach Closed: Beachgoers never run out of ways to have fun. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

8/26

Manhattan Beach Closed: A lone figure walks onto a closed Manhattan Beach Pier in Manhattan Beach. (Genaro Molina/Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

9/26

Manhattan Beach Closed: Waves are minus surfers next to a closed bike path in Manhattan Beach. Even with the warm weather, the majority of beachgoers and surfers stayed away from beaches that have been closed to stop crowds from gathering to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

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Hermosa Beach Closed: The only one surfing was a statue of surfer Dewey Weber as a visitor walks near The Strand which has been closed to stop people from gathering to reduce the spread of the coronavirus in Hermosa Beach. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

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Huntington Beach Open: Beachgoers enjoying warm summer-like weather appear to be keeping their distance in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Huntington Beach Open: A man sprints across an empty stretch of sand in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Huntington Beach Open: Cailin Healy, right, of Calabasas and a friend take a selfie together in Huntington Beach. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Huntington Beach Open: Unable to go to the gym, Jeff Spirk, 31, of Huntington Beach does pull-ups on a lifeguard tower. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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San Clemente Open: Aerial view of the previously closed San Clemente pier and beach on April 8. The city is reopening the beach. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)

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San Clemente Open: A couple takes in a sunset together near the San Clemente pier. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Malibu Closed: A jogger and her dog run on a closed Westward Beach Road at Westward Beach in Malibu. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)

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Hermosa Beach Closed: Daryl Presley and his son, Indy, 3, of Torrance play in the sand of Noble Park in Hermosa Beach. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Hermosa Beach Closed: Holly Martin, right, who works at Snapchat, brought her laptop to Noble Park in Hermosa Beach to get some work done in the sun. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

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Hueneme Beach Open: Sisters Emily, 7, and Hazel Enholm, 4, spent the day at Hueneme Beach, which had a soft opening with restrictions as Ventura County modified its stay-at-home order. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Hueneme Beach Open: Brian Ledis of Westlake Village gives surfing lessons to his 8-year-old son Rowan at Hueneme Beach. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Hueneme Beach Open: People enjoy the surf and sand at Hueneme Beach. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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Point Mugu Closed: Visitors dont seem to be observing social distancing restrictions on April 11 at Point Mugu. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Point Mugu Closed: California State Parks Ranger David Gunn warns visitors at Point Mugu that parking is not allowed due to coronavirus and social distancing restrictions. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Point Mugu Closed: A surfer flies off his board to end a ride at Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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Point Mugu Closed: Miriam Burciga enjoys a socially distant perch overlooking Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Officials remain concerned that the reopening could lead to an influx of out-of-town visitors, which contributed to the citys decision to close its beaches in the first place.

After San Diego County elected to shut down its shores, every stretch of sand south of San Clemente to the border of Mexico became off-limits to the public. The nearby cities of Laguna Beach and Seal Beach had also chosen to close their beaches, as did Los Angeles County to the north.

That made San Clementes beaches a magnet for travelers, prompting residents to complain about crowds, Sund said.

Beach closures in neighboring cities and adjacent counties remain in place, although other stretches of Orange Countys shoreline are open.

But San Clemente along with all of Orange County is trying to discourage out-of-town visitors by keeping public parking lots closed, and the City Council also voted to put in place additional parking and beach-access restrictions.

If someone from another city is wanting to come to our beach, it is going to be very difficult for them to find parking, Sund said. And if they come here and think they can spend the day here, theyre quickly going to learn that is not something we are going to allow on the beach currently.

The city could not say exactly when beaches would reopen this weekend because it is still working through the logistics of parking and other restrictions.

Everyones looking at trying to ease back into whatever the new normal will be, as opposed to diving back in, Sund said. Were trying to do it right and not rush.

He said that the city also has been in contact with state officials about possibly reopening San Clemente State Park and San Onofre State Beach and expects a determination to be made on those areas soon.

Obviously, it poses some logistic challenges for [the state] if we open up, he said. One of our boundaries is San Onofre State Beach, and you cant just draw a line in the sand no pun intended.

He said that city officials will monitor the effects of the beach reopening and make adjustments if needed.

At the end of the day, the council is very much wanting to see the curve go down related to COVID-19, he said. But its also recognizing that residents who live in a coastal community choose to live here for the recreational opportunities a coastal community offers and trying to find that balance.

Earlier this week, Orange County officials debated but ultimately decided against closing all of the countys beaches for two weeks over concerns about the possibility of crowds in the wake of a heat wave thats forecast to peak Friday and Saturday.

Continue reading here:

San Clemente beaches to reopen for residents this weekend - Los Angeles Times

NEW YORK Mary Parker is a nurse from St. Louis so caught up in the beach novels of Elin Hilderbrand that she makes an annual trip to Nantucket, the Massachusetts island community where Hilderbrand sets her stories.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Parker isnt sure shell make it to Nantucket this year or even find herself close to a beach. But she will continue to make the journey in her mind through books by Hilderbrand and others.

We dont have anything that compares to a place like Nantucket where Im from, Parker says. So writers like Elin Hilderbrand are all we have now if those are the kinds of places you dream of being. You just need that escape.

The coronavirus has already shut down most of the countrys bookstores, led to the cancellation of the industrys annual national convention, BookExpo, and driven publishers to postpone many releases to the fall or next year. It now challenges another publishing and cultural tradition beach reads. While beach reads can include any kind of light fiction, many of these romances, thrillers and family dramas are actually set on beaches and summer resorts from Nantucket to the South Carolina coast to Florida.

Government officials in New York and California already have warned that beaches are likely to be closed this summer and travel restricted. Such summer literary institutions as the book festival in Nantucket will be online instead. And promotional tours for books will likely remain limited to virtual discussions.

Authors and booksellers contend, and hope, that you dont need a beach to read a beach book. Hilderbrand remembers a painful summer growing up when her father had died and the familys traditional summer outing was called off. Instead, she worked at a factory making Halloween costumes.

What I could have used that summer was a book to replace my summer beach vacation, something that would have let me escape, says Hildebrand, whose bestsellers include The Summer of 69 and The Perfect Couple.

Fellow author Mary Alice Monroe says readers tell her something similar about this summer.

Theyre hoping I can take them to a place they cant get to themselves, says Monroe, whose books include The Summer Guests and Beach House for Rent.

Beach reads are as carefully timed as Christmas books, so new novels by Hilderbrand, Monroe, Nancy Thayer and others remain scheduled for May and June. Hildebrands 28 Summers, inspired in part by the film Same Time, Next Year, traces a long-term affair that began in Nantucket in 1993. Monroes On Ocean Boulevard continues her Beach House series set in South Carolina.

In Barbara Delinskys A Week at the Shore, a New Yorker confronts family issues during a visit to the Rhode Island beach house where she spent summers as a child. Thayers Girls of Summer, like Hilderbrands new book, is set in Nantucket, while Mary Kay Andrews Hello, Summer finds a journalist returning to her home in Silver Bay, Florida, where her family runs local newspapers.

This year, maybe the beach read will be on somebodys back porch or hammock or in the corner of an apartment of wherever theyre sheltering at home, Andrews says. What I hope to do is take them to the beach in their imagination.

Authors already are looking to summer 2021 and considering whether their next books will mention the pandemic. Monroe says she is working on a story that will have her characters living through this virus saga and will bring back the Rutledge family of her Beach House series in the hope that readers will connect with them. Hilderbrand worked in a reference to the virus shortly before completing 28 Summers, and says that while it wont be a major plot point in her upcoming work, she might find it unavoidable to mention.

Other writers expect to avoid it, at least in the short term. Delinsky says she might refer to it in a book in a few years when theres a better sense of perspective. Brooke Lea Foster has no need to include it. Her upcoming novel, Summer Darlings, takes place on Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, in the 1960s. Shes currently writing a story set in the Hamptons in the 1950s.

Im sure the books that come out of this moment will be incredible, but I like to go back and escape in time, Foster said.

Read more from the original source:

Beaches are closed, but beach reads are still on the way - The Spokesman-Review

April 23, 2020 | 11:17pm Many of you have asked if I am willing to travel around Florida wearing Grim Reaper attire to the beaches and other areas of the state opening up prematurely. The answer is absolutely yes. Beginning May 1 we will hit the road here in state. Please retweet and spread the

|people visiting beaches [ 19459000 ] to Prevent |people visiting with beaches [ 19459000 ] to Prevent |Grim Reaper costume to Prevent people visiting with beaches [ 19459000 ] }

April 23, 2020 | 11: 17pm

Many of you have asked if I am ready to travel to the beaches and other areas of the state opening up around Florida wearing Grim Reaper apparel. The answer is absolutely yes. We will hit the road here in state. Please retweet and spread the word. pic.twitter.com/UO7QKg161n Daniel Uhlfelder (@DWUhlfelderLaw) April 22, 2020

A lawyer in Florida said he will see beaches which openprematurely while dressed as the Grim Reaper starting in May.Many of you have asked if I am willing to travel about Florida wearing Grim Reaper apparel to the beaches and other regions of the country opening up prematurely. The answer is absolutely yes, lawyer Daniel Uhlfelder tweeted.Uhlfelders costumed tour comes as a response to information that the state had relaxed restrictions implemented April two to enforce social distancing practices to slow down the spread of COVID-19.Past weekend reopened and Floridians were seen flocking to Cocoa Beach to sunbathe after it reopened for social activities.Last month, the attorney made news for advocacy amid the pandemic by suing Gov. Ron DeSantis to seek an injunction to get a statewide closure of beaches and urging him to issue a stay-at-home order that he later did, NBC News reported.Also Uhlfelder traveled to Florida beaches wearing a paintball costume the socket reported. But he said a girl told him he had beenscaring peopleFlorida hasconfirmed a totalof 29,648 COVID-19 cases, together with 987 deaths.

Read : Supply

Read more:

Florida lawyer to wear Grim Reaper costume to stop people visiting beaches - The-Latest News

Associated Press Published 1:01 p.m. ET April 21, 2020 | Updated 1:01 p.m. ET April 21, 2020

This combination photo of cover images shows, from left, "Hello Summer" by Mary Kay Andrews, "Girls of Summer" by Nancy Thayer, "A Week at the Shore" by Barbara Delinsky, "28 Summers" by Elin Hilderbrand and "Summer Darlings" by Brooke Lea Foster.(Photo: AP)

NEW YORK (AP) Mary Parker is a nurse from St. Louis so caught up in the beach novels of Elin Hilderbrand that she makes an annual trip to Nantucket, the Massachusetts island community where Hilderbrand sets her stories.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Parker isnt sure shell make it to Nantucket this year or even find herself close to a beach. But she will continue to make the journey in her mind, through books by Hilderbrand and others.

We dont have anything that compares to a place like Nantucket where Im from, Parker says. So writers like Elin Hilderbrand are all we have now if those are the kinds of places you dream of being. You just need that escape.

The coronavirus has already shut down most of the countrys bookstores, led to the cancellation of the industrys annual national convention, BookExpo, and driven publishers to postpone many releases to the fall or next year. It now challenges another publishing and cultural tradition beach reads. While beach reads can include any kind of light fiction, many of these romances, thrillers and family dramas are actually set on beaches and summer resorts from Nantucket to the South Carolina coast to Florida.

Government officials in New York and California already have warned that beaches are likely to be closed this summer and travel restricted. Such summer literary institutions as the book festival in Nantucket will be held online instead. And promotional tours for books will likely remain limited to virtual discussions.

Authors and booksellers contend, and hope, that you dont need a beach to read a beach book. Hilderbrand remembers a painful summer growing up when her father had died and the familys traditional summer outing was called off. Instead, she worked at a factory making Halloween costumes.

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What I could have used that summer was a book to replace my summer beach vacation, something that would have let me escape, says Hildebrand, whose bestsellers include The Summer of 69 and The Perfect Couple.

Fellow author Mary Alice Monroe says readers tell her something similar about this summer.

Theyre hoping I can take them to a place they cant get to themselves, says Monroe, whose books include The Summer Guests and Beach House for Rent.

Beach reads are as carefully timed as Christmas books, so new novels by Hilderbrand, Monroe, Nancy Thayer and others remain scheduled for May and June. Hildebrands 28 Summers, inspired in part by the film Same Time, Next Year, traces a long-term affair that began in Nantucket in 1993. Monroes On Ocean Boulevard continues her Beach House series set in South Carolina.

In Barbara Delinskys A Week at the Shore, a New Yorker confronts family issues during a visit to the Rhode Island beach house where she spent summers as a child. Nancy Thayers Girls of Summer, like Hilderbrands new book, is set in Nantucket, while Mary Kay Andrews Hello, Summer finds a journalist returning to her home in Silver Bay, Florida, where her family runs local newspapers.

This year, maybe the beach read will be on somebodys back porch or hammock or in the corner of an apartment of wherever theyre sheltering at home, Andrews says. What I hope to do is take them to the beach in their imagination.

Authors already are looking to the summer of 2021 and considering whether their next books will mention the pandemic. Monroe says she is working on a story that will have her characters living through this virus saga, and will brink back the Rutledge family of her Beach House series in the hope that readers will connect with them. Hilderbrand worked in a reference to the virus shortly before completing 28 Summers, and says that while it wont be a major plot point in her upcoming work, she might find it unavoidable to mention.

Other writers expect to avoid it, at least in the short term. Delinsky says she might refer to it in a book in a few years, when theres a better sense of perspective. Brooke Lea Foster has no need to include it. Her upcoming novel, Summer Darlings, takes place on Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts, in the 1960s. Shes currently writing a story set in the Hamptons in the 1950s.

Im sure the books that come out of this moment will be incredible, but I like to go back and escape in time, Foster said.

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Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2020/04/21/coronavirus-even-beaches-closed-beach-read-books-still-here/2997018001/

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Coronavirus has many beaches closed, but beach reads are still coming this summer - USA TODAY

So long as Southern Californians remain close to home and wear masks outdoors, they can still exercise outdoors without violating Gov. Gavin Newsoms stay-at-home order. But as the fight against the pandemic evolves, the rules at many beaches, parks and trails have been changing.

As this roundup shows, local, state and federal agencies continue to enforce closures or severely limited access at hundreds of beaches, parks, trails and forests, all phased in since early March. Yet some public agencies are easing restrictions while others hold firm.

San Diego County officials decided Friday to ease ocean-access restrictions on Monday so that cities there could reopen beaches.

In San Bernardino County, the Mt. Baldy Resort reopened for skiers on Wednesday, saying its new limits would allow for proper social distancing.

Orange Countys board of supervisors on Tuesday cleared the way for public and private golf courses to open.

Riverside County leaders did the same on Monday.

Ventura County on Saturday allowed the reopening of golf courses and bike shops among various modifications to its Stay Well at Home order. That order, which continues to close campgrounds, gyms, swimming pools and many other facilities, is effective through May 15.

Meanwhile, state and L.A. officials have taken a more guarded stance. Newsom said Wednesday he may soon modify his statewide stay-at-home order but so far, There is no date. ... We have to look every day at the data.

L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore called upon Angelenos to resist the urge to head for forbidden beaches and trails as temperatures reach the 90s in coming days.

Avoid those nonessential activities, Moore said. Save us the awkwardness of us having to admonish you.

Los Angeles Countys beaches, piers, beach bike paths, beach access points, public trails, trailheads and tennis courts are closed through May 15 under the countys current Safer at Home order. That order covers beaches in every coastal city and unincorporated area of the county.

Heres an update on whats happening where. If you do go outside for a walk, remember these tips for keeping safe. Local and state officials stress the need to take greater care in maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others.

City Recreation and Parks officials say most most park areas remain open for walking and running. But they are enforcing a broad range of restrictions. Among them: All public hiking trails and trailheads in the city of Los Angeles have been closed since March 27.

Also closed are all public beaches, public beach parking lots, beach bathrooms, piers, beach access points and the Venice Boardwalk and Ocean Front Walk (with limited access to essential businesses).

All recreation centers, aquatic facilities, golf courses, skate parks, tennis courts, playgrounds, baseball fields, soccer fields and basketball courts are also closed, as are other indoor and outdoor sport amenities.

In Griffith Park, authorities have closed all facilities and trails, including the Pbservatory, Travel Town, train rides, the pony rides, the merry-go-round and some roads.

Elsewhere, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro remains closed, as is the Sherman Oaks Castle, the Expo Center in Exposition Park; and the Silver Lake Meadow. Since April 11, walkers and joggers have been required to travel counterclockwise on the 2.2-mile loop trail around the Silver Lake and Ivanhoe reservoirs.

Some 24 farmers markets remain open in the city, including the Sunday Hollywood Farmers Market, after the city tightened safety and social-distancing requirements in early April.

Henry Brown, 42, exercises in MacArthur Park in the Westlake District of L.A. on March 31.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Since March 27, L.A. County officials have enforced the closure of trails, trailheads, beaches and other public lands. All of the countys park play and sports amenities, including golf courses, are also closed.

Parks officials noted on their website that you can still enjoy time outdoors at your local park for passive use, such as walking, jogging, or leisure time outdoors for individuals or families. Social distancing is still required, and group gatherings are prohibited by the health order.

Since March 23, the county has forbidden use of its multiuse trail system, a network of more than 220 miles that includes the popular Eaton Canyon Trail; all interior trails at Vasquez Rocks; all interior trails at Placerita Canyon; the Loop Trail, Devils Chair and South Fork Trail at Devils Punchbowl; the San Dimas Nature Trail; the Schabarum-Skyline Trail in the San Gabriel mountains; and dozens of other popular routes.

In Santa Monica, city beaches, the beach bike path and Ocean Front Walk closed March 27 as part of the countywide order to shut down beaches. The citys Palisades Park, which overlooks the beach and pier, is also closed.

In Hermosa Beach, the pier, Strand and beach itself are closed as part of the countywide beach closure.

In Redondo Beach, too, the pier, Strand and beach are closed. City officials also closed the Esplanade area; Veterans Park and nearby parking areas; all public walkways, stairways, ramps and paths to the beach; and a coastal bluff trail between Knob Hill Avenue and George Freeth Way.

On Catalina Island, the Catalina Chamber of Commerce is urging non-residents to stay away. The Catalina Express, which normally runs boats to the islands Avalon and Two Harbors landings from Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point, has cut its service back to two round-trips a day between Long Beach and Avalon. At the Catalina Flyer, which normally offers one departure daily from Newport Beach to Avalon, a phone recording warned that the boat has suspended service until further notice. The Catalina Island Conservancy has closed its visitor facilities, services and trails.

On March 18, state parks officials closed all state campgrounds. On March 29, they tightened restrictions further, closing vehicle access to the entire state park system 280 parks, including off-road vehicle areas.

Since then, the state has fully closed dozens of parks, banning pedestrians as well as vehicles. Among them: The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve; more than a dozen state parks and beaches in L.A. County; San Clemente State Beach in Orange County; seven state beaches in San Diego County; and four state beaches and parks in Ventura County.

At Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in the Baldwin Hills area of L.A., officials said in a statement that the park is closed to vehicular access but remains open for locals who wish to walk, hike and bike (in parks with bike trails) in the park, provided they practice social/physical distancing of six feet or more. This is not the time for a road trip to a destination park or beach.

In the first week of April, Pasadena city officials closed the Rose Bowl Loop, a popular 3.1-mile-long walking path around the famed stadium.

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is closed through at least May 15.

Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge is closed until further notice. The L.A. Arboretum in Arcadia is open, with advance reservations required to prevent crowding.

The National Park Service has imposed weekend closures on all Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area trails, trailheads, restrooms, overlooks and pullouts in Ventura County. Authorities said those areas will remain open on weekdays, when crowds are thinner.

Those weekend closures begin at 2 p.m. Fridays and reopen at 6 a.m. Mondays until further notice, an NPS release said.

That policy covers Rancho Sierra Vista (including the Wendy Trailhead); Cheeseboro Canyon Trailhead; the Deer Creek area; and all trails within Circle X, which includes Sandstone Creek, Mishe Mokwa, the Grotto Trail, the trails and overlooks along Yerba Buena Road and the Backbone Trail along the spine of the Santa Monicas.

As part of the earlier L.A. County-wide closure of hiking trails, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area had already shut down all of its trails and restrooms in L.A. County.

Also, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority on March 23 closed all of its parklands, trail and facilities close to 75,000 acres of parkland, including all parks owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

The authoritys busiest parks, now closed, include Wilacre Park in Studio City; Temescal Gateway Park in Pacific Palisades; Franklin Canyon Park off Mulholland Drive, Beverly Hills; Ed Davis Park in Towsley Canyon, the Santa Clarita Valley; all the overlooks on Mulholland Drive; Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve at the west end of Victory Boulevard; and Escondido Canyon Park in Malibu.

The City of Ventura on April 20 reopened its beaches, pier, promenade and parks, subject to requirements that people keep their distance and dont linger.

The City of Port Hueneme, experimenting with a soft reopening, has reopened its beach (and a parking lot) to walking, running, biking and solo surfing and paddleboarding, but said it would discouraging sunbathing or any stationary presence on the sand. Its pier, restrooms, playground and street parking remain closed.

Orange County on March 25 closed parking lots at all county beaches, regional and wilderness parks; parking spaces at all trailheads; parking lots at Irvine Lake; parking along Black Star Canyon Road; pedestrian access points at Thousand Steps, Table Rock, West, Camel Point and Treasure Island beaches; restrooms; playgrounds; exercise equipment; shelters and trailheads. Pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians were permitted.

Orange County also banned vehicular traffic to Carbon Canyon, Clark, Craig, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Mason, Mile Square, Tri-City and Yorba regional parks. Pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians were permitted.

Among individual Orange County coastal cities, north to south:

Seal Beach has closed its beach, pier and many park amenities. But green space within its parks remains accessible with social distancing required.

Huntington Beachs pier and beach parking lots have been closed since late March, followed by closure of street parking along Pacific Coast Highway April 16 and closure of Huntington Harbor beaches on April 17. But other beaches and park areas remain open.

Newport Beach on March 25 closed its beachfront parking lots and piers, and later added its Oceanfront Boardwalk on the Balboa Peninsula and the Balboa Island Bayfront Walkway to the forbidden list. On April 10the city banned surfing at the Wedge between 10 a.m and 5 p.m., citing large numbers of surfers attracted by growing swells.

Laguna Beach has closed all city beaches, all basketball, volleyball and tennis courts; all playgrounds; its community pool; parking lots at Aliso Beach; and three beach-adjacent city parks: Main Beach city park, Heisler city park and Treasure Island city park.

In Dana Point, city, county and state beach and harbor public parking lots are closed, as is Dana Cove Beach and many coast-adjacent streets. (Others are limited to local traffic only.) Noting that police recently wrote 158 parking citations in one weekend, city officials said in a statement, If you have to use your car to get here, there is nowhere to park.

San Clemente in late March closed its city-owned beach parking lots and municipal pier and many other facilities. On April 1 it closed tennis courts, ball fields and picnic areas as well, but the citys trails remained open.

The Safer at Home order from Los Angeles County Public Health officials, issued March 21 and updated April 10, prohibits all public and private group events and gatherings through May 15. It also says that individuals and families are not prohibited from hiking, walking, biking or shopping at [e]ssential [b]usinesses, so long as they keep their distance from others.

The order also notes that if local entities (like municipal governments) choose to impose stricter limits, the county order does not supersede them.

Los Angeles County has closed all indoor and outdoor playgrounds, along with indoor shopping centers and all swap meets and flea markets.

Under a vote by San Diego Countys Board of Supervisors Friday, that countys ocean reopens Monday morning to swimming, surfing, kayaking and paddle-boarding, but not group activities, sunbathing or boating. Parking lots and boardwalks will stay closed and the decision does not apply to state beaches. Cities within the county can choose to stick with stricter restrictions.

Most of San Diego Countys parks and preserves have remained open for pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians, but their parking lots and many facilities and amenities are closed.

Among cities within San Diego County, San Diego, Carlsbad, Encinitas and Imperial Beach agreed Wednesday to coordinate their beach reopenings -- but didnt set a specific reopening date.

The city of San Diego closed its beaches, parks and trails on March 24.

The Port of San Diego, which controls 34 miles of the countys coastline, including many parks, on March 24 closed all of its parks, beaches, parking lots, piers and boat launches.

The U.S. Forest Service on March 26 closed campgrounds, picnic areas, bathrooms and other developed recreation sites in its California forests through April 30 and left Southern Californias four forests Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino to make their own decisions on trail access and parking.

In the Angeles National Forest, authorities on April 3 closed 23 well-used San Gabriel mountaintrails, four popular trailheads and 19 roads through at least April 30.

This map shows the affected areas. The closures about 81.5 miles of trails and 54.5 miles of roads include the Millard Canyon above Altadena, San Antonio Falls, Icehouse Canyon and North Devils Backbone trailheads.

The forest order shuts routes to Echo Mountain and Mt. Lowe, such as the Sam Merrill Trail, above Altadena, as well as others leading to Mt. Wilson, San Gabriel Peak, the Rim Trail and other routes in the San Gabriel Mountains.

In the San Bernardino National Forest, whose 680,000 acres include four mountain ranges in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, a spokesman said trails, trailheads, staging areas that function as trailheads and parking areas at trailheads remain open. Hikers should practice social distancing, sticking to wide fire roads instead of single-track trails that are too narrow, the spokesman said.

In Los Padres National Forest, which includes roughly 1.95 million acres reaching north from Ventura County into Central California, spokesman Andrew Madsen said trailhead parking and trails remain open, as do dispersed camp sites in the backcountry.

In Cleveland National Forest, which reaches into San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties, the list of sites closed through April 30 includes all trails and picnic areas where an Adventure Pass is normally required.

In the forests Trabuco ranger district, a spokesperson said closures include: El Cariso north/south picnic area; Hot Springs trailhead; San Juan loop trailhead; Tenaja trailhead; Trabuco creek picnic area; Wildomar staging area; Maple Springs day use area.

In the forests Descanso Ranger District, closures include Agua Dulce; Bear Valley OHV (off-highway vehicle) area; and Corral Canyon.

In the forests Palomar Ranger District, closures include: Crestline; Henshaw scenic vista; Inaja Memorial; Kica Mik Overlook; Palomar Mountain Interpretive Station; San Luis Rey Picnic Area; Fry Creek Trailhead; Observatory Trailhead; and Barker Valley Trailhead. The popular Cedar Creek Falls and Three Sisters Falls trails have been closed since March 21.

The National Park Service closed Yosemite National Park March 20; Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks on March 25 Joshua Tree National Park on March 31; and Death Valley National Park (except for State Route 190 and Daylight Pass) on April 4.

Meanwhile the NPSs federal cousin the Bureau of Land Management has left open much of Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. A BLM spokeswoman estimated 9,000 visitors brought dune buggies ad dirt bikes there during the week after Easter, but attendance is expected to dwindle as temperatures rise.

Californias Department of Fish and Wildlife director, Charlton H. Bonham, has postponed the start of the trout season in Alpine, Inyo and Mono counties. Once set for April 25, the season is now set to open May 31.

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What's open and closed this weekend: Beaches, parks and trails in Southern California - Los Angeles Times

Hospital nurses are moving into RVs because they are worried they could be exposed to COVID-19 at work. Ventura County Star

The city of Ventura updated its closure orderof parks and beaches Monday night, allowing people to walk, jog, bike and surf.

People will have limited access tocity parks, beaches, the promenade and pier. But they won't be allowed to linger, sit on the sand, fish from the pier,picnicor stick around in any fashion.

It's open for movement, not for gathering, city officials said. Park- or beach-goers also must practicephysical distancing, keeping at least six feet from others and avoiding groups.

Parking areas will continue to be closed and restrooms, playgrounds, picnic areas, courts and fields also will stay shuttered.

Sand along the Ventura coast is a patchwork of state and city jurisdictions. In early April, days after the city announced it was closing its beach, promenade and pier, the statealso closed its beaches in the area and Ventura Harbor did the same.

Ventura Harbor said Tuesday that it again would follow the city's decision, allowing the same limited access at its beaches.

California State Parks also said it was easing restrictions at San Buenaventura, Emma Wood and Mandalay beaches.

Editor's note:The Star is making this storyfreeto readers due to public health concerns related to coronavirus.Please consider a digital subscription to The Star so we can continue doing this important work.

"We are removing our full closure and going back to our soft closure," said Dena Bellman, state parks spokesperson.

That means all facilities are closed, but active recreation is allowed on beaches, trails and in the water.

Gatherings are not allowed, she said, and ifpeople are in a group and not practicing physical distancing, they will be contacted by a ranger and may have to leave.

Parking areas at state parks properties also will stay closed. Authorities have urged people to stick closer to home and not travel to beaches or parks outside of their community.

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The changes are expected to be rolled out over the next several days. The Ventura City Council called for clear signs to be posted around parks and beaches and a stepped-up enforcement system.

If a city park becomes overcrowded or people do not comply with physical distancing practices, the on-duty watch commander of the Ventura Police Department can order the park cleared.

The first time that happens, the park or beach would be closedfor 24 hours.

If it happens a second time, the closure would last 48 hours, and a third closure would leave the spot closed indefinitely, according to the council's decision.

"This is not considered opening. It's considered a limited closure," Council member Cheryl Heitmann said Monday.

Coronavirus:Patchwork of jurisdictions and closures add confusion to beach, park access

"Not everyone is going to be happy. There are people who really desperately want to come to the beach or the park, bring their kids and let their kids run around, play and picnic,"she said. "That just isn't where we are yet. We'll get there."

Farther down the coast, Port Hueneme recently had "a soft reopening" of its beach.

City officials said people could walk, run,surf, bike or swim at Hueneme Beach, but not hang out or socialize. The pier, picnic areas, restrooms, and playground equipment will stay closed.

People also have to practice physicaldistancing and avoid groups.

This will be a slow rollout," said Port Hueneme Police Chief Andrew Salinas, according toa statement. "If beachgoers can follow social distancing guidelines and these new beach restrictions, we will not need to reinstate another beach closure."

People were discouraged from sunbathing, gathering or sitting. Beach-goers won't be allowed to bring blankets, chairs, coolers, umbrellas, tents or similar items onto the beach.

Does this mean County Line beach is open?

County Line beach is part of Leo Carrillo State Park, which was closed as of Monday. It is one of several state beaches and state parks along a stretch of the south coast of Ventura County. Those also were still closed Monday.

What about Chumash Trail, Sycamore Canyon or La Jolla Canyon?

Those are part of Point Mugu State Park, which also were still closed as of Monday afternoon.

Are trails open in the Conejo Valley area?

On Wednesday, the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency is expected to reopen its trails on weekdays only. Trails will be closed on weekends and parking areas will stay closed.

Are other beaches or parks open in Ventura County?

As of late Friday, county-run parks were reopened. Those are only sites managed by the County of Ventura. A list is available here: https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/. Beaches at Channel Islands Harbor, including Silver Strand, Kiddie and Hollywood, also are open.

Outdoors: Some Conejo Valley trails will reopen later this week, but only on weekdays

Cheri Carlson covers the environment for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at cheri.carlson@vcstar.com or 805-437-0260.

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Coronavirus: City of Ventura to allow limited access to closed beaches, parks, pier - VC Star

19-year-old Jose Zacapa was released from Lawnwood Thursday, April 23, 2020, to a crowd of cheers after beating COVID-19 Wochit

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY Just one week ago, Indian River County officialssaidthere were no plans to re-open county facilities in an effort to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.

"I know everyone is eager to put this event behind us," County Administrator Jason Brown said at an afternoon news conference seven days ago,"But we need to make sure that we finish strong."

But on Friday, noting a "leveling-off" of COVID-19 cases,Brown announced anew plan for the county's facilities: Public beach access points will re-open Tuesday, followed by the re-opening of Sandridge Golf Club May 1.

"We're going to see how it goes," Brown said,"We're doing this on a weekday first, so that we're hoping that we have a nice opening experience for everyone."

Brown added that the county should not let its guard down in the battle to prevent the spread of the virus.

More: 'Jose is a miracle': St. Lucie ESE student discharged from hospital after battle with COVID-19

During Friday's weekly COVID-19 press conference at the county's Emergency Operations Center, law enforcement joined county and health officials toshed new light on the countywideresponse to the virus.

Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar said deputies will "absolutely" be patrolling the beaches to ensure beach-goers are adhering to social distancing guidelines and avoiding large groups. There will also be county ambassadors on the beach reminding everyone to be responsible, Loar said.

"We are prepared to enforce," Loar said. "But again, our mission is to educate and inform before any type of enforcement."

Loar alsosaidthere are no confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the Indian River County Jail.

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Miranda Hawker, the county's health officer,confirmed four of the county's five COVID-19 deaths are associated with assisted living facilityHarborchase of Vero Beach.

The Health Department is reporting the facility at 4150 Indian River Boulevard also has seven cases of the virus, Hawker said. The Departmentis constantly communicating with assisted living facilities on the status of their residents, Hawker added.

"Consistently, we have our nursing homes and our assisted living facilities reporting those residents who may have symptoms," Hawker said. "So we're tracking that across the board."

For more news, follow Max Chesnes on Twitter by clicking here.

Max Chesnes is a TCPalm breaking news reporter for Indian River County. You can keep up with Max on Twitter @MaxChesnes, email him at max.chesnes@tcpalm.com and give him a call at 772-978-2224.

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Will IRCSO patrol county beaches when they re-open Tuesday? 'Absolutely,' sheriff says - TCPalm

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A Satellite Beach police officer patrols the sand March 28 near Pelican Beach Park after city officials closed the beach between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. because of the coronavirus pandemic.(Photo: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY)

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Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach officials have reopened beaches for sunbathing, sitting in chairs and all other activities within city limits during the coronavirus pandemic but groups must be five people or fewer.

Since April 2,both cities joineda group of Brevard County beachside communities in limitingbeach activities to walking, jogging, biking, fishing, surfing and swimming during Florida's 30-day"safer at home" order.

"The City would like to thank our community for continuing to abide by the social distancing measures we have put in place at our beaches to safeguard our residents during this pandemic response," Satellite Beach City Manager Courtney Barker wrote in a Tuesday afternoon Facebook post.

"Since these measures have been put in place, the beaches have been areas of strong compliance, while still giving our residents a place to exercise and relax," Barker wrote.

"As such, the City is now allowing all beach activities to take place, including sunbathing and sitting on the beach. However, we will be limiting activities on the beach to groups of fiveor less, and we will continue to limit any congregating on the boardwalks," she wrote.

"Our beach public parking remains closed as well," she wrote.

Cocoa Beach's executive order specifies that beachgoers must practice social distancing of at least 6 feet in all directions. Beach parking, beach access parking and the downtown parking garage remain closed.

Cocoa Beach's ban on beach alcohol remains in effect. What's more, thecity's public beach parking closure includescommercial lots and motorists whoparkillegally face $500tickets, saidMelissa Byron, director of economic development.

The Indian Harbour Beach City Council will discuss the topic during a Thursday afternoon workshop, City Manager Mark Ryan said.

Indialantic Mayor Dave Berkman andMelbourne Beach Town Manager Elizabeth Mascaro said their neighboring communities will continue limitingbeach activities to walking, jogging, biking, fishing, surfing and swimming.

Berkman and Mascaro said their respective towns will review the topicnext week.

During the last weekend of March,Satellite Beach,Cocoa Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialanticand Melbourne Beach announced temporary daytime beach closures, fearing a crush of visitors from Orlando and Central Florida.

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Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY.Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1.To subscribe: https://cm.floridatoday.com/specialoffer/

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COVID-19: Satellite Beach, Cocoa Beach reopen beaches to sunbathers, groups of 5 or less - Florida Today

Municipal leaders along Pinellas Countys shoreline support opening nonessential businesses, but are divided on how beaches, eateries and bars should open if Gov. Ron DeSantis emergency stay-at-home order expires next week.

At the request of county administrator Barry Burton and Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, leaders of many Pinellas towns submitted dozens of ways to ease restrictions so residents can again earn paychecks and possibly enjoy the 35 miles of pristine beaches.

While divided on beaches and businesses, the leaders are united in requiring people to maintain a 6-foot distance from one another and to avoid gathering in large groups, so they can limit a further spread of COVID-19. They also want to fall back under the countys earlier safer-at-home order that required many businesses to close at 10 p.m. When residents return to beaches, it could only be for exercising under a phased plan, some suggested, and restaurant capacities should be reduced by 50 percent.

Several municipal leaders also want the public to wear face masks, according to a review of records.

This will become the new normal for quite some time, so the more we practice it, the less of an inconvenience it becomes, Madeira Beach City Manager Bob Daniels wrote about the social distancing and masks.

The governors emergency order has limited all activity in Florida to essential services since April 3, but the County Commission closed all beaches five weeks ago to limit the spread of COVID-19. County leaders want to lay the groundwork for a new plan in case DeSantis lifts his order.

Gualtieri and Burton are examining medical data, including the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests and the number of people in the 14-day incubation period, to determine if the pandemic has peaked in the county. They expect to inform commissioners on Tuesday.

County and city leaders dont want a repeat of last month when thousands of people packed Clearwater Beach and a viral video unleashed a flood of accusations from across the globe that Pinellas elected officials were enabling a public health crisis.

Clearwaters detailed plan comes with several caveats, City Manager Bill Horne said in an interview. The three-phase approach does not describe a hard and fast plan, but rather a list of guidelines the city could change at any time in response to future COVID-19 outbreaks.

Like the White Houses Opening Up America Again guidelines, Clearwater and others prefer openings to come in phases.

For example, in the first phase, Clearwater Beach would open from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. to recreational users only. There would be no relaxation or sunbathing allowed, only exercise. The city would station lifeguards and police officers to make sure beachgoers behave. In phase two, the beach would reopen with no special time or lawful activity restrictions, but people would have to maintain a social distance of 6 feet on the sand. Umbrella rental companies could serve customers, but only at 50 percent capacity.

Beach reopening drew the most suggestions.

The Belleair Shore Commission wants beaches fully opened. Indian Rocks Beach wants public parking and restrooms opened. Treasure Island doesnt want parking opened, but prefers parks and recreation centers to open.

Tarpon Springs said beaches and pools should open only after nonessential businesses have returned for two weeks. St. Pete Beach agreed.

Getting people to jobs should be a priority," St. Pete Beach City Manager Alex Rey wrote. All businesses should be open before getting them to have a good time at the beach.

Dunedin supports a countywide approach to opening to ensure equitability among businesses" and wants ample notice so businesses can recall employees.

Still, Gualtieri said, the number of positive COVID-19 tests has to go in the right direction to open back up. He cautioned that the number of positive cases could rise, but the county is below its projected peak.

We are not going to have robust testing in the foreseeable future," he said Wednesday. We have to manage expectations.

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When Pinellas County reopens its beaches and businesses, officials want to move slowly - Tampa Bay Times

An NWS heat advisory for the inland valleys was slated to remain in effect through 6 p.m. Saturday.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. A spring heat wave sent temperatures soaring in the San Diego area Friday, providing a toasty preview of summer as thermometer readings neared triple digits in the inland valleys and broke past that barrier in the deserts.

The hot spell, which has been building since midweek, is expected to continue in earnest Saturday before beginning to ebb on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

This afternoon, the mercury edged into the low to mid-80s along the coast and in the mountains, reached the mid-90s in locales in between those zones and climbed to 103 in the desert community of Ocotillo Wells, according to the NWS.

Yesterday was the first time I noticed we had the air on at our house. We were getting really hot in there for the first time, and tomorrow is going to be even worse, Tim Gaylord told News 8 during his walk along Windansea beach.

As temperatures soar, San Diegans are getting their first feel of summer weather, but there's just one problem: San Diego County's beloved beaches will remain closed during the peak of the heat wave.

Today was the first day I woke up sweating. I couldnt put my wet suit on and run down here [to the beach] but hopefully soon, said local surfer Nathan Bohmhoff. Its torture, I pay so much money to live here and I cant go in the ocean so its sucks."

On Friday, San Diego County health officials lifted ocean restrictions for swimmers, surfers and those using kayaks or paddleboards.

Piers, boardwalks and parking lots are still closed to the public, and the order does not include boat ramps or watercraft. It also does not apply to state parks and beaches.

The decision of beach closures has been left to the cities.

Its like being at an amusement park and being too short to ride the rides, said surfer Dylan Cheema.

Each municipality can make the call on opening beaches. Any beaches that do open will be subject to the county's "passive use" definition, and visitors must avoid sitting, lying and engaging in group activities -- any open beach can be used for walking, running or as an access point to the ocean.

Cheema is one of many people who live near the water and does not have AC, but does have other ways to cool off.

Open the windows, go for some walks and take cold showers, he said with a laugh.

City of San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said the next phase of opening city beaches would consist of beaches shorelines, all activities with physical distance, boardwalks, piers, parking lots, and Fiesta Island.

Gatherings would still not be allowed.

An NWS heat advisory for the inland valleys was slated to remain in effect through 6 p.m. Saturday.

Temperatures will drop Sunday and Monday, though afternoon highs in the deserts will remain around 100 through at least Thursday, forecasters advised.

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Heat wave has people even more anxious to hit the beach - CBS News 8

OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) The Town of Oak Island is opening its beaches to the public on Friday morning, but there will be restrictions in place.

All access points and beaches will open for exercise, such as walking, jogging, and biking between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Exercise groups should not have more than 10 people.

Sunbathing, sitting, fishing, games and all other activities will not be permitted on the beaches at this time.

All beach equipment such as towels, blankets, chairs, tents, coolers, and umbrellas are also not allowed. The cabana restroom facility will remain closed.

Public parking at the beach accesses and parking lots, as well as parking within the town rights-of-way is prohibited, except for town employees, government officials and contractors. Towing will be enforced.

Parks and recreational facilities, public boat ramps, and kayak launches will remain closed.

The public is also prohibited from parking in private lots in order to access the beach. This includes all private business, commercial and club parking lots and parking spaces.

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Oak Island opening beaches Friday, with restrictions - WWAY NewsChannel 3

Public beach accesses in Kure Beach remain closed as several beach communities along the coast reopen access points, allowing existing residents to exercise on the beach strand. (Port City Daily photo/Johanna F. Still)

SOUTHEASTERN, N.C. Less than two weeks after closing the public beach strand due to the coronavirus, many of Brunswick Countys southern beach towns have reopened their public access points.

Holden Beach and Ocean Isle Beach lifted their beach access restrictions effective noon Tuesday. Public parking remains closed in both towns, so the reopening will largely serve existing property owners. Holden Beach will allow exercise and relaxation while Ocean Isle Beach limits access to only exercise activities.

Related: From Surf City to the South Carolina border, most public beach access now closed [Free read]

Oak Island will reopen its beach strand Friday at noon, with access points staying open between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. The town will not allow beach equipment and only permit non-stationary exercise activities. Public parking lots remain closed and no one is permitted to park in a private parking lot for the purpose of accessing the beach. Violators of the towns order could be fined up to $1,000.

The public strand on Sunset Beach remains closed. Caswell Beach, one of the few municipalities that did not close off public access, has not lifted its public parking ban.

After four weeks of closure, Wrightsville Beach reopened its public access points at noon Monday. Parking remains closed and non-exercise activities and beach equipment are not permitted. In a statement late Friday after a small protest to reopen town businesses, Carolina Beach Mayor LeAnn Peirce said a soft reopening was in the works. In a live video streamed Wednesday afternoon, Pierce said staff is considering reopening the beach strand Monday to only exercise activities while limiting beach equipment.

In a Tuesday letter, Kure Beach Mayor Craig Blozinsky shared concerns about reopening too quickly before a greater percentage of the population is tested for the virus. Kure Beachs public beach strand remains closed.

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After two-week closure, three Brunswick beaches reopen; Kure and Carolina still closed [Free read] - Port City Daily