Ventura County beaches headed towards soft closures

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. -- Ventura County will be implementing soft-closures to Ventura-managed beaches.

Ventura County Harbor Department will limit beaches to essential physical activities including walking, jogging, swimming and surfing while also practicing social distancing guidelines.

The Harbor Department Director Mark Sandoval said residents who want to visit Hollywood, Silver Strand and Kiddie beaches will not be allowed to sit, lounge or gather.

Gatherings are prohibited by the Stay-Well-At-Home order issued by Ventura County Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin.

The limitations are consistent with soft closure guidelines set forth by neighboring beaches in the cities of Port Hueneme, Oxnard and Ventura.

Sandoval said these soft-closures will be implemented due to the anticipation of large crowds from Los Angeles County whose beaches are closed.

Harbor Department staff and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department will increase patrolling of the three beaches to ensure the soft closure guidelines are being met.

Sandoval says if officials see that people are not following these soft-closure guidelines it may result in County-managed beaches being shut down for the foreseeable future.

Parking lots and bathrooms at the three beaches will remain closed.