Busy beaches put social distancing or lack of it in the spotlight

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - Despite the pandemic people flocked to the beaches in Carpinteria on a sunny Wednesday afternoon. Some locals said it looked like Spring break.

Steps away from the city beach and Carpinteria State Park, a flashing street sign on Linden Avenue by the railroad tracks reads "stay at home, no beach gathering".

It's a mixed message in the time of the coronavirus as nearby beaches to the south in Ventura and to the north at Avila are closed.

We asked Carpinteria resident and District One Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams for his reaction.

"I know that people are getting cabin fever, need to get out there, and it is fine to get out there, both in the mountains on trials and the beaches, but just don't go to where everyone else is going to. There are lots of miles of beaches out there. There are lots of miles of trails, lots of miles of mountains. Go to where other people are not going, pick up a book or a guide, ask someone a friend who knows where they are going , don't keep on going to the same beaches that everyone else is because we need to maintain social distancing to be effective," Williams said.

Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg calls it a mental health issue.

 "I think it is really important at this time to think of our mental health and of our parents. Where are they going to go with their kids if you limit the outdoors? I am not in favor of that."

Dr. Ansorg said people should look for open space.

"Obviously we don't want large crowds of people hanging closely. Now if you have a big piece of beach and small family units for instance on weekends and they have plenty of space, I don't see a problem with that from a health perspective."

The public health director agreed. Van Do-Reynoso said she did surveillance at Leadbetter Beach on Saturday.

"I was there for over an hour. And I saw people social distancing and I saw I believe everyone I looked at and scanned had a face mask on, so I think that being able to enjoy our beautiful outside setting is great for mental health as well." Do-Reynoso said.

One person walking their dog by the public health update building shared a handwritten note that read, "You need to let the young kids know the more they are out, the more risk they have of taking home the virus to their parents."

Dr. Henning said herd immunity is far off.

"Right now we have anywhere between .05 and .07 percent of the population has been exposed in some way to the virus."

He said that leaves 99 percent ready to catch the virus at anytime.

Supervisor Gregg Hart said he favors keeping the beaches open, but that means people have to take responsibility.

"People should wear face coverings outdoors and should limit their contact with other people. The message remains the same and will remain the same until there is a vaccine," said Hart.

Leadbetter Beach at sunset was almost empty.