Heat wave draws 'summer day crowd' to California beach amid coronavirus pandemic

A spring heat wave drove an uptick of people to California beaches, golf courses and trails, leading to the closure of one coastal park as authorities warned people not to swarm recreational areas for fear of igniting a deadly coronavirus surge.

Temperatures soared into the 80s and 90s in many areas from Sacramento to San Diego on Saturday. While most recreation remains shuttered under various stay-at-home orders, officials are wary that those still open could draw crowds that will ignore social distancing rules and seek sun and air after being mainly confined indoors for more than a month.

"We're seeing a summer day crowd," said Brian O'Rourke, a lifeguard battalion chief in Newport Beach in Orange County, which saw an estimated 40,000 people on Friday. A similar crowd was expected Saturday as the fog burns off.

Police in Pacific Grove said they had to close the picturesque Lovers Point Park and Beach at the southern end of Monterey Bay because of a lack of social distancing.

Los Angeles city and county beaches, trails and playgrounds were closed, and officers on horseback were patrolling those areas to enforce social distancing rules. The city also opened cooling centers for people "who might not be able to survive the heat wave at home," Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

Everyone else should stay home rather than gathering outside, he pleaded.

Otherwise, "more people will be sick, and more will die," Garcetti said, which could delay the city's reopening because any spikes in virus cases could show up weeks later.

California has more than 41,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,670 deaths, half of them in the Los Angeles area, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. However, the number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.

This week, health officials announced a Santa Clara County woman died in early February from COVID-19 - weeks before the first previously known U.S. death from the virus. An autopsy released by the county Saturday concluded she suffered a massive heart attack caused by coronavirus infection, which also spread to her trachea, lungs and intestines.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and death.

Cases continue to grow in California but at a manageable pace that hasn't overwhelmed hospitals, health authorities have said. State and local stay-at-home orders have been cited as successfully slowing the rise in coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths. Recent polls show Californians overwhelmingly support them.

In San Francisco, church bells rang as people stepped outside in masks for a noontime rendition of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" to thank front-line workers responding to the pandemic.

"It's such a great way to bring community and unity to the city," Justine Fox told the San Francisco Chronicle. "The song is a little sad, about leaving your heart behind, but that's all right. It's a little bit of a sad time right now."

There have been several protests by people who want to reopen the state, contending their liberty and livelihoods are at stake. Three people were arrested at a rally in Encinitas, 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of San Diego, Saturday and cited for violating health orders, San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Ricardo Lopez said.

South of Los Angeles in Orange County, the city of Laguna Beach closed its beaches. But a neighboring county beach was open, and city Mayor Bob Whalen was concerned that out-of-towners might spill over.

"Stay at home," he pleaded. "Please don't overwhelm us here."

Police warned that violators could face misdemeanor citations that carry fines of up to $1,000.

Beaches in Ventura County, northwest of LA, were open but with some restrictions.

"Basically, you must keep moving. No sunbathing, chairs, blankets, coolers, sunshade umbrellas," a county statement said Friday. "You must keep moving (while) walking, running, surfing and swimming."

There already have been large crowds, and more people were anticipated, especially from neighboring LA County. But if they ignore restrictions, the beaches could be shut "for the foreseeable future," said Mark Sandoval, director of the county Harbor Department.

San Diego County officials said beaches will reopen Monday to swimming, surfing, paddleboarding and kayaking, but not recreational boating. Strict social distancing rules still apply, meaning beachgoers cannot sit, lie down or engage in group activities.

Beaches operated by the state remain closed.

Some places were still tightening their social distancing rules.

On Friday, the city of San Jose announced it was barring people from using playgrounds, sports areas and exercise equipment at local parks.

Solano County extended its shelter-at-home order through May 17. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said the order there would likely be extended by several weeks.

Concerts, sports and other events that draw large crowds have been among the pandemic's casualties. On Friday, officials announced the July cancellation of the annual California State Fair in Sacramento for the first time since World War II.