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Santa Barbara County Planning Labor Day Weekend Beach Restrictions To Limit Coronavirus Spread

Health officials on the Central and South Coasts say they are encouraged by progress in reducing the number of new coronavirus cases in the region.  But, some are worried about the potential for gatherings over the Labor Day holiday weekend which could lead to a new spike in cases.  Santa Barbara County is planning some beach restrictions for the holiday weekend.

Ventura and Santa Barbara county health officials say they’ve definitely seen a correlation between holidays like Memorial Day Weekend, and the Fourth of July with the spread of coronavirus.

What’s known the community spread of the virus is fueled by get-togethers with people outside of our households, like barbeques.

So, there are plans in the works to try to prevent gatherings by limiting beach activities over Labor Day weekend in Santa Barbara County.  Details will be announced this week, but the restrictions could be similar to past ones in which you can still swim, surf, walk, or run on the beach, but you can’t set up camp, and sit or sunbathe.

There’s no word yet on whether Ventura County will do anything with its beaches over the Labor Day holiday weekend.  

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.