{"id":275329,"date":"2020-04-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-23T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/coastal-mayors-announce-plan-to-reopen-beaches-and-bays-2\/"},"modified":"2020-04-23T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-23T07:00:00","slug":"coastal-mayors-announce-plan-to-reopen-beaches-and-bays-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/coastal-mayors-announce-plan-to-reopen-beaches-and-bays-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Coastal mayors announce plan to reopen beaches and bays"},"content":{"rendered":"

In cooperation with public health officials as well as regional coastal agencies and lifeguards, today Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer joined the mayors of Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Imperial Beach to announce a coordinated, safe and regional plan for the eventual re-opening of local beaches and bays.<\/span><\/p>\n

Coastal city mayors have been working over the last several days to prepare the tactics – not the timing – for opening shorelines in coordination with public health officials and regional lifeguard agencies. The plan aims to enable access to beaches when public health officials determine the appropriate time, while still maintaining mandated levels of public health and safety in accordance with state and county orders.<\/span><\/p>\n

The two-phase plan was unanimously approved yesterday by the San Diego Regional Aquatic Lifesaving Emergency Response Taskforce. SDR ALERT is comprised of lifeguard leadership from the region’s coastal cities, Camp Pendleton, Harbor Police, State of California, and United States Coast Guard.  <\/span><\/p>\n

“This is a region-wide approach developed by lifeguards, not politicians, for the safe reopening of beaches and bays under public health directives. It’s a plan focused on how we will open our beaches, not when,” Faulconer said. “The goal is to reopen access to the sand and water at the same time in coordination with all coastal cities, the port district, state, and county. It would only take effect when county public health officials have the COVID-19 data to determine it’s a safe step to take.” <\/span><\/p>\n

A County of San Diego public health order currently restricts recreational activity in local waterways, including oceans and bays. Cities and agencies are preparing to implement this regional plan when the County has enough data related to COVID-19 cases to substantiate modifying the public health order.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mayors from the cities of Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, National City, Oceanside, San Diego, and Solana Beach have pledged to move forward in unison. The California Department of State Parks and Recreation, San Diego Unified Port District, and County of San Diego have been working closely with the mayors and their city managers on this effort.<\/span><\/p>\n

A plan for physical distancing and sanitation must be created by each agency that oversees public beaches. Agencies must:<\/span><\/p>\n

– List measures necessary to adequately ensure proper physical distancing and sanitation;<\/span><\/p>\n

– Provide evidence of its implementation upon demand;<\/span><\/p>\n

– Promptly modify its plan if it is not effective;<\/span><\/p>\n

– Close any public beach where physical distancing cannot be effectively implemented.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beaches and waterways would be reopened in two phases as follows, at a time determined by County public health:<\/span><\/p>\n

PHASE 1: Limited access (date to be decided in coordination with public health officials);<\/span><\/p>\n

– Resume normal lifeguard staffing for observation, education, and rescues in anticipation of reopening; – Face coverings recommended when reasonable;<\/span><\/p>\n

– Swimming near lifeguard strongly recommended.<\/span>
– Open and allowed:<\/span><\/p>\n