California to step up enforcement of coronavirus restrictions in view of beach crowd

California will step up enforcement of coronavirus-related public health restrictions after crowds jammed its beaches over the weekend.

Governor Gavin Newsom's announcement came after officials in Orange and Ventura Counties received flak for the crowds at the Southern California beaches. The officials had allowed access to their beaches even as state parks remained closed, prompting families and groups to head to the ocean on a warm spring weekend.

The two counties that opened their beaches are reconsidering their plans after people thronged their shoreline spots, prompting criticism from public health authorities.

The crowds could delay a loosening of restrictions that was just weeks away, the governor said while announcing the decision.

Newsom added he would not direct state police or park rangers to issue citations to individuals who were just out quietly with their children or walking their dogs.

The coronavirus outbreak was not over in California, where 45 people have of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours and 1,300 more cases were diagnosed.

Late on Monday, seven Bay Area public health officials issued a statement saying the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara as well as the city of Berkeley would issue revised "shelter-in-place" orders this week.
The current orders will expire on May 3.

Two additional states, Nevada and Colorado, have joined California, Oregon and Washington to develop a Western regional plan for reopening their economies and allowing residents to begin more typical social interactions.

However, Washington Governor Jay Inslee said his state's parks and other outdoor areas would reopen on May 5 for golf, hunting, fishing and other recreational activities.