San Diego residents are living without their waves and beaches as the city tries to slow the spread of the COVID 19 virus.
Yellow police tape serves a line of demarcation in Ocean Beach, putting that neighborhood’s beaches off-limits.
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Police are on hand to make sure people observe the city’s ban on using local beaches and parks. But beaches aren’t the only things shut down.
Ocean Beach’s only public restroom, located at the lifeguard tower, is also closed. For some, that is a problem.
“There are about 100 homeless people that hang out around here a lot,” said Doug Matson, a retiree who comes to OB regularly. “I’m just wondering where they’re going to go to the bathroom. I think we know where that’s going to go. And that’s going to create problems, I think.”
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San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer took the extraordinary step of closing the city’s beaches this week in an effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
For the most part, locals observed the ban.
OB resident Dana Walker was philosophical.
“People like me that love to walk the beach alone, I don’t get to do that,” Walker said. “But, I kind of understand why they’re doing it. But I just hope its not for too long.”
At Mission Beach the sand was smooth and it only took a friendly reminder from police and lifeguards to encourage people to stay off the beach and boardwalk.
City officials have not said how long the beach ban will stay in effect.
