Local beaches won’t close for Fourth of July. SLO County’s advice? ‘Do the right thing’
Unlike their Southern California counterparts, San Luis Obispo County beaches will be open for business this holiday weekend.
“We are not going to be shutting things down this weekend,” county public health officer Dr. Penny Borenstein said at a news briefing Wednesday. ”We have an expectation the community can rise to the occasion and do the right thing.”
Borenstein said despite an increase in new local coronavirus cases, and orders from the state to shutter beaches in Southern California and beach parking lots in the Bay Area ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, San Luis Obispo County does not anticipate closing any of its local beaches or businesses.
“We have heard from many many people that in order to stay safe we need to close the beaches, we need to close the bars, we need to take a step back,” Borenstein said. “We have consistently said to our public, ‘Please continue on this journey with us. ... In return we will allow us to live in the way we have been able to, and move forward until such time we need to pull back or stop.’”
Borenstein noted that additional law enforcement would be out and about over the holiday weekend to encourage people to comply with social distancing and mask requirements.
On Wednesday, San Luis Obispo County added 31 new cases of coronavirus, and reported its second COVID-19 related death. To date, the county has confirmed 642 local cases.
Given the shutdowns in other parts of the state, the county could see a large number of tourists in the area over the weekend.
Borenstein said that, despite existing recommendations for people to stay at home and not travel, the county is aware that tourists will likely come into the area during the holiday.
Borenstein’s advice? “If people are going to do these things, please be smart about it,” she said.
She urged people to continue to wear masks, stay at home if they are sick, wash their hands and avoid large gatherings.
San Luis Obispo County emergency services director Wade Horton had additional advice:
“This Fourth of July, please keep your celebrations small, make sure you are taking measures to protect those around you,” he said during Wednesday’s media briefing. “Wear a mask, keep your distance, wash your hands ... if we can all work together, we can keep our county, SLO County, moving forward, and we won’t have to retreat.”
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