A continuing spike in new coronavirus cases on the Central and South Coasts has prompted Santa Barbara County to join Ventura County in closing its beaches for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
It’s a reversal of earlier plans, but health officials are worried about the big increase in new diagnosed cases in the county this week. 111 new cases were reported in Santa Barbara County Thursday.
It’s disappointing news for many Santa Barbara County residents, but county officials say the potential threat of further spread of coronavirus makes the move necessary. All beaches will be closed from midnight Thursday to midnight Sunday. The health order does allow people to take part in water sports, like swiming, surfing, and kayaking, but you can't sit, stand, walk, or run on the beaches.
An additional concern was that with Los Angeles and Ventura County beaches being closed, a flood of people might flock to Santa Barbara Counties beaches.
The county’s bars, breweries, and nightclubs had already been ordered closed. Wineries must close indoor operations, but can operate outdoors. And, restaurants can no longer offer dine-in service unless they have outdoor seating. Ventura County has a similar order in place, expect that its wineries must completely close.