Amid coronavirus fears, many outdoor activities remain open — with rules
The outdoors is open, for now.
Take a walk or lay down a towel at a quiet spot on the sand to read a book. Take the kids to an uncrowded field to kick around a soccer ball or have a family picnic. Paddle out, away from the crowds, to catch some waves.
Orange County issued new guidelines Tuesday, March 17, discouraging non-essential gatherings, and called for restaurant and bar closures, but came short of a “shelter in place” order. Likewise, going outdoors in Los Angeles County is still allowed, as long as people adhere to guidelines of social distancing — staying at least six feet away from one another — and are not gathering in groups of more than 10.
Dr. Matthew Waxman, associate clinical professor of emergency medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said it’s important to continue to get fresh air and sunshine.
“I think it’s a wonderful place to be,” said Waxman, who specializes in tropical medicine and hygiene. “I personally went for a long run yesterday. Really, no one was out there.”
But how long the luxury of enjoying the outdoors lasts depends, in part, on how well people adhere to the social distancing rules and no-gathering guidelines.
“If they are not following the current regulations, we could expect to see further curtailing of gathering,” Waxman said.
Seal Beach was so packed when the sun broke through on Tuesday that lifegaurds issued a warning on social media.
“Throughout the day today, there have been large groups of kids at the beach. Parents, please explain to your kids the importance of Social Distancing and do not let them treat this school closure as if it is summer vacation,” the post reads. “While they may not feel personally threatened by this virus, their actions could greatly impact your family and our community as a whole.”
Likewise, Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguards are warning beachgoers to use caution as beaches remain open. “Our messaging would be in line with the public health recommendations for social distancing, handwashing, and minimizing contact,” Pono Barnes, spokesman for the department, wrote in a text.
But the beaches or vast open space in wilderness parks could be a good place to find solace.
Places such as Newport and Huntington beaches in Orange County and Hermosa and Manhattan beaches in the South Bay have long stretches of sand at which to post up to read a book, do some yoga and stretching, or simply relax and breath.
Other areas along the coast offer pristine views. Take binoculars and watch for passing gray whales from the Palos Verdes Peninsula or Dana Point Headlands, or hike on one of the trails that runs alongside the ocean. Maybe take up bird-watching at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands or Upper Newport Bay.
State parks and campgrounds have been closed. And OC Parks announced Wednesday, March 18, it was prohibiting vehicle traffic at Carbon Canyon, Clark, Craig, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Mason, Mile Square, Tri-City and Yorba regional parks. Walk-ins and bicycle or horse ride-ins are welcome and restrooms will remain open, an announcement reads.
Parking and restrooms at Peters Canyon, Santiago Oaks and O’Neill regional parks will remain open, and wilderness parks and beaches are still open.
On a stretch of quiet beach Tuesday in north San Clemente, people were taking slow strolls on the sand along the shoreline, careful not to get too close to passersby doing the same. Some surfers paddled out to enjoy a swell.
But be wary, with recent storms there are ocean advisories in place this week in Los Angeles and Orange counties due to high bacteria levels — so going for a dip or surf right now isn’t recommended.
As with the parks, how long people will be able to enjoy the sun and surf is unknown. Popular beaches in Italy, Spain and Portugal have been shut down, with people ordered to stay home except for essential travel, according to Surfer Magazine.
Italian surfer Nik Zanella told the magazine: “The ban on outdoor activities will be in place till April 03. While it doesn’t mention surfing explicitly, every time you go out of your house you need to fill a self-declaration that states where you go and why … Police stop you, analyze what you wrote and decide if your outing is legit.”
Huntington City Beach Lt. Claude Panis said the Marine Safety Department is following the city’s recently released coronavirus guidelines. But lifeguards are changing how they operate, including rethinking how to train incoming lifeguards on Saturday, possibly breaking them into groups of 10 or less.
“We have people’s best interest in mind,” he said. “We’re status quo as far as sand and beaches.”
UCLA’s Waxman said along with the physical benefits of getting outdoors, there is psychological value.
“Beaches or hiking trails I think they are safe … with people you’re usually around or living with,” he said. “We’re not recommending large gatherings. A hike with a friend or family member — as long as you keep your proper distancing.”
Adrienne Feilden, a child life specialist at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center, recommended trying creative ways to make sure kids feel a sense of comfort during this time.
“I think one of the important things that is crucial is to facilitate normalcy,” she said.
Have them plan and jot down their “outside” time and allow them to decorate the schedule. “It helps them predict what is going on in the day and it helps parents during the day,” Feilden said.
Kids may be missing their usual extracurricular activities such as sports practice, so perhaps try tossing a ball around the yard at home, or at a park. Or do something as simple as walking around the block.
“We walk around the block a certain amount of times and track it,” Feilden said. “Monday we did two laps around the block, Tuesday three. … Have them involved in tracking that so they feel that sense of accomplishment.”
She also gave some tips on keeping kids safe outside. Don’t touch railings, she said, and be vigilant about disinfecting door knobs. Wash hands immediately before and after going out. If they touch their face or sneeze, go inside to wash their hands.
And remember — be gentle when giving warnings to children, said Waxman.
“They are stressed out,” he said. “Let’s also let them be children. Let them play in the backyard, go for a walk in the neighborhood.”
Bike rides are another great idea, he said.
“Utilize the outdoor space we have in California,” Waxman said.
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