The new normal: How safe are beaches?
CGTN
Surfers walk along the water's edge amidst the easing of the coronavirus disease restrictions at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, May 27, 2020. /Reuters

Surfers walk along the water's edge amidst the easing of the coronavirus disease restrictions at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, May 27, 2020. /Reuters

People are hitting the beach as coronavirus restrictions start to ease and summer begins in the northern hemisphere, but access might be limited and public health officials still urge caution, including continued physical distancing.

While rules vary across the world, here is what you would find at Los Angeles County beaches like Santa Monica and Malibu:

- Check local restrictions before heading to a beach.

- No lounging around on the sand. Use of the beach is limited to activities such as swimming, surfing, and biking.

- Vendors are not allowed, so bring everything you need.

- Both in and out of the water, stay at least six feet (1.8 meters) from others who are not members of your household.

- No gatherings – including athletic competitions or youth camps.

- Wear a face covering while out of the water if there are other people nearby.

Spending time outdoors is a low-risk activity in the era of the coronavirus. It has many benefits – as long as you keep your distance.

The real change, experts advise, is to plan a beach outing around specific activities for a limited period of time during the day, rather than settling in for hours of food, socializing, or naps by the shore. In some places, picnicking and sunbathing may be prohibited. Orange County, California has banned the building of sandcastles.

Even where more leisurely activities are permitted, avoid large gatherings or crowded areas of the beachfront.

"If it is a nuclear family having a picnic that is perfectly fine, but don't have a birthday bash," said Dr. Neha Nanda, medical director of infection prevention with Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Source(s): Reuters