California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is ordering all beaches and state parks to close after the past weekend saw many people out enjoying the weather at such locations amid the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.
Fox 11 first reported on a memorandum police chiefs were sent, informing them of his decision to give police departments time to carry out the order. The closures are effective starting on May 1.
BREAKING: A source has provided me with this bulletin that will be sent out to all California police chiefs notifying them that tomorrow, Governor Newsom will announce the closure of ALL beaches and state parks effective May 1st in response to recent beach crowds in OC . @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/RG53HhmySf
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) April 30, 2020
Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner said while he understands the need to ensure people are not violating social distancing and that Newsom does have the power to order the closure, he does not think it is a wise decision.
BREAKING: Response from Orange County Supervisor @DonWagnerCA @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/M1EpRmC06t
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) April 30, 2020
"Medical professionals tell us the importance of fresh air and sunlight in fighting infectious diseases, including mental health benefits. Moreover, Orange County citizens have been cooperative with California state and county restrictions thus far. I fear that this overreaction from the state will undermine that cooperative attitude and this and our collective efforts to fight the disease," Wagner said.
Newsom tweeted on Thursday the reason California is flattening the curve of cases is "because folks are staying home. Practicing physical distancing. We aren’t out of the woods yet. We must continue to take this seriously and allow our re-opening to be guided by science and public health."
Going to REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT:
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 30, 2020
CA is flattening the curve because folks are staying home. Practicing physical distancing.
We aren’t out of the woods yet.
We must continue to take this seriously and allow our re-opening to be guided by science and public health.