https://www.instagram.com/p/B_aFjM8gpjn/

Residents who visit County of Ventura-managed beaches will be limited to essential physical activity such as walking, jogging, swimming and surfing while practicing social distancing guidelines, the Ventura County Harbor Department announced.

Harbor Department Director Mark Sandoval said residents who want to visit Hollywood, Silver Strand, and Kiddie beaches will not be allowed to sit, lounge, or gather. Gatherings are prohibited by the Stay Well At Home Order issued by Ventura County Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin.

Director Sandoval said the move is consistent with soft closure guidelines set forth by neighboring beaches in the cities of Port Hueneme, Oxnard, and Ventura in the past week. Prior to moving to soft closure guidelines, County of Ventura-managed beaches were open to the public provided social distancing requirements were met and gatherings were limited to households.

“With the weather heating up and beaches being unavailable in Los Angeles County, our beaches have gathered quite a bit of attention,” Director Sandoval said. “It was apparent with large crowds at the beaches this week and we anticipate more people planning to visit this weekend, particularly from outside of Ventura County.”

Harbor Department staff and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department will increase patrolling of the three beaches to ensure the soft closure guidelines are being met.

“Not following these soft-closure guidelines may result in our County-managed beaches being shut down for the foreseeable future,” Director Sandoval said.

Parking lots and bathrooms at the three beaches will remain closed.

Editor’s Note: this story was published on April 24, 2020.