Newsom chides California beachgoers: 'We can't see images like we saw'

OAKLAND — Gov. Gavin Newsom chided Californians who flocked to beaches over the weekend, saying they could delay an otherwise imminent start to reopening the economy.

“We can’t see images like we saw, particularly on Saturday, in Newport Beach and elsewhere,” Newsom told reporters, adding that coronavirus “doesn’t go home because it’s a beautiful sunny day around our coasts.”

Flattening rates of infection and death have California poised to begin lifting restrictions on social activity and economic life. Newsom said Monday that the state is “weeks, not months“ away from relief in the form of “meaningful modifications” to the state’s stay-at-home order. But he warned that backsliding on social distancing could undermine that goal.

“The only thing that will set us back is our behavior,” Newsom said, adding that “the only thing that can stop that is more images like we saw this weekend.”

The governor noted that officials in coastal Orange County were looking at “augmentations” to limits on beach use and he suggested the California Highway Patrol could “avail ourselves to more aggressive enforcement.”

The city council in Newport Beach announced Sunday it will consider shutting down its beaches over the next three weekends. Huntington Beach, however, defended its beach activity, saying that its visitors were properly social distancing „despite what’s being reported.“

Law enforcement has largely relied so far on social pressure to keep people out of public spaces, although local governments have closed down parks and playgrounds. Newsom moved last month to limit visitors by closing down parking lots by parks and beaches.