Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, a popular Long Beach site, closed entirely on March 24. A sign indicating its closure is visible at the front and center of the entrance on March 29. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Two weeks into business shut-downs, school closures, and social distancing due to COVID-19, beaches officially closed to the public on March 27.
In an announcement from Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, “While many have been practicing social distancing and adjusting their daily routines, we continue to see the gathering of groups on our public beaches. It is critical that we continue to take swift action as we work together to do the right thing and address this public health crisis.”
The ordinance included all beach, bike, and pedestrian paths, as per the state’s “Stay at Home” order and the city’s “Safer at Home” order.
This was an amendment to the March 24 announcement, closing beach parking lots through April 19.
Beach closures are currently until May 1.
“Seriously people, you need to practice social distancing. I am seeing tons of people out there acting like there’s no crisis. You could be carrying the virus, have no symptoms, and be responsible for the illness or worse of others,” Garcia tweeted on March 24.
As of April 5, 15 new cases have been reported in Long Beach, bringing the total up to 213, according to the Press-Telegram.
Beach lots across Long Beach closed on March 24 in an effort to follow the “Stay at Home” order due to coronavirus. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Beach pathways were relatively empty around Belmont Shore Beach on March 29, two days after beaches were officially closed by Mayor Robert Garcia. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Public restrooms at Rosie’s Dog Beach were closed to the public in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, in a photo taken March 29. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
This note from an anonymous person is taped to the door of a public restroom at Rosie’s Dog Beach on March 29. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
A normally busy parking lot is noticeably empty at Rosie’s Dog Beach on March 29, two days after the beach’s closure due to the pandemic. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
On March 29, two days after Mayor Robert Garcia officially closed Long Beach’s beaches to the public, people are still walking along the pathways of Rosie’s Dog Beach. A sign reading “maintain social distancing” indicates CDC regulations due to COVID-19, recommending people stand at least six feet apart from each other. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Charging stations have been closed and blocked off in a parking lot in Belmont Shore Beach, following the lot’s closure due to coronavirus on March 24. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Parking lots throughout Long Beach’s beaches have been closed to the public, as of March 24, following the guidelines of the “Stay at Home” order due to coronavirus. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
The Belmont Pool’s doors have been closed due to coronavirus. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Belmont Pool in Long Beach is closed amidst the pandemic that has ushered in a time of social distancing and quarantining. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Caution tape adorns many of the signs along the pathways of Belmont Shore Beach on March 29. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Many of the entrances into the beaches across Long Beach are visibly blocked off, due to the March 27 closures. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Two masked visitors sit outside the closed Belmont Pool on March 29. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Many stairways and entrances to Long Beach’s beaches have been blocked off with caution tape, visible on March 29. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Caution tape is wrapped around numerous signs and lamp posts throughout the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, which had been entirely closed on March 24 due to social distancing being ignored. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Caution tape rests over the empty bike parking rack on March 29 by Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. The pier officially closed on March 24 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
The gates of the well-known Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier in Long Beach closed on March 24 to prevent the spread of coronavirus. A sign indicating its closure in Spanish is placed in front of the gate. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Belmont Shore Beach is relatively empty on March 29, except for the occasional runner or biker, two days after its official closure. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Despite Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier’s closure on March 24, a few people sit outside the locked gates on March 29. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Caution tape is visibly placed throughout Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, indicating its closure due to COVID-19 on March 29. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
A sign cautions others to “maintain social distancing,” while wrapped in caution tape on March 29. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
A normally busy pathway in Belmont Shore Beach is empty except fo the occasional runner or biker on March 29. Mayor Robert Garcia mandated official beach closures on March 27. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
An attempt to block off entrance ways at Belmont Shore Beach is visible on March 29. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
As an entranceway at Belmont Shore Beach is marked with caution tape, the occasional pedestrian can still be seen along the pathway on March 29. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
On March 30, three days after beaches were officially closed in Long Beach. Long Beach City Beach is relatively busy. As signs indicating social distancing are prevalent, people continue to pass each other on the narrow sidewalks, less than six feet apart. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Even with bike and pedestrian paths officially closed on March 27, numerous people can be seen at Long Beach City Beach on March 30. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Public lots along Long Beach’s beaches were closed on March 24, with the remainder of the beach areas following on March 27. A parking enforcement car can be seen in the back left, monitoring the parking lot for violators. Two bikers and a pedestrian can be seen along the closed pathways on March 30 at Long Beach City Beach. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
The entranceway into a parking lot at Long Beach City Beach is visibly blocked off on March 30. A parking enforcement car can be seen on the right, as the lots officially closed on March 24. Bikers and numerous other people can be seen still occupying the beach. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Long Beach City Beach has been officially closed along with the rest of the city’s beaches, on March 27. This includes all public spaces such as basketball courts, visibly blocked off with caution tape on March 30. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Amidst Long Beach’s beach closures on March 27 in accordance with the “Stay at Home” order, numerous people visited Long beach City Beach on March 30. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
As part of the state’s “Stay at Home” order and the city’s “Safer at Home” order, Long Beach’s beaches officially closed to the public March 27. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
As people continued to ignore social distancing, Mayor Garcia officially closed the beaches of Long Beach on March 27. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
The March 27 beach closures of Long Beach included all public spaces such as basketball courts, tennis courts, and workout equipment. Two men utilize the public workout equipment at Long Beach City Beach on March 30, amidst the caution tape and other noticeable barriers indicating its closure. A pedestrian walks by on the closed bike path. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
Following the closure of beach parking lots on March 24, people continued to ignore social distancing, leading to the full beach closures on March 27. Photo by Tess Kazenoff
