City of Coronado
COVID-19 UPDATE
|
|
Dog Beach, Sunset Park Reopened
The City Council approved opening up Dog Beach and nearby Sunset Park at a meeting on Tuesday, June 2.
Dog Beach was closed when all City beaches shut down April 3 to discourage public gatherings that might help spread the coronavirus. When City beaches reopened on April 27 for limited activities such as walking and running, the City kept Dog Beach closed due to the difficulty visitors had in maintaining the required social distancing.
With the opening of San Diego County beaches June 2 to passive use, including laying out and gathering with members of the same household group, the Council moved forward with reopening Dog Beach and Sunset Beach.
The closing of Sunset Park was due to unexpected gatherings on the grass due to the closure of the beach in early April. Please note that the fire rings and the dog washing station remain closed for now.
|
|
Passive Use of Beach Permitted
Coronado's beach is open as of June 2 for passive use, including sunbathing and relaxing with towels and chairs with members of your household unit.
The Coronado City Council agreed May 19 to reopen Coronado's beach once the San Diego County health officer opened the region's beaches for passive use. Activities such as football or volleyball at the beach are not allowed.
Restrictions were recently reduced on parking lots adjacent to the beach and the bay, and at parks, pursuant to the San Diego County Public Health Officer. They will remain for the time being open at 50 percent of capacity.
The City asks the community to heed social distancing and sanitation measures when at the beach.
|
|
Bridge Closures and the Reasons Why
The San Diego-Coronado Bridge is a state highway, managed by the California Department of Transportation and the California Highway Patrol.
The bridge is closed for many reasons, including traffic accidents, someone who is contemplating jumping, and, as in recent days, due to protesters aiming to walk across the bridge. There might be other reasons, such as filming a commercial, which will close it intermittently over the course of a weekend morning, or roadwork, which is typically conducted by Caltrans at night.
When the bridge is closed, it may be closed by the CHP or by the City’s Police Department, or both, if an emergency situation arises. Law enforcement may close both sides of the bridge, as needed.
It is unpleasant when the bridge closes for any reason, especially if you must leave or return to Coronado during the pandemic, but there is always a reason and that is to protect the safety of the public.
|
|
Coronado Monitors Safety, Supports Free Speech
The City is aware of concerns about ongoing protests and demonstrations and wants to assure the community that it is actively monitoring the situation even during the ongoing pandemic.
Coronado and its Police Department are saddened over the tragic death of George Floyd and understand the public's desire to protest. The City supports the right to free speech but also is committed to protecting its citizens and businesses.
The City is being informed on a regular basis about any threats directed at the community. Coronado is in daily communication with law enforcement agencies throughout San Diego County. The Coronado Police Department receives information on any threats and, based on the level of threat, prepares a response in conjunction with neighboring agencies.
The City has in recent days closed the San Diego-Coronado Bridge due to protesters in San Diego attempting to cross the span on foot. The closure on May 31 ended early the next morning. The action prompted the City to issue a directive the same evening asking all residents and guests to stay in and businesses to cease operations from 8 p.m. on May 31 until 5:30 a.m. on June 1. The City also activated its Emergency Operations Center in anticipation of any civil unrest, which never materialized. The City also closed the bridge June 1 from 4 to 10 p.m. due to a similar demonstration.
Coronado actively monitors the ongoing protests and assures residents and businesses that it is doing everything to protect the community.
|
|
How to Stay Informed in Coronado
The City works diligently to provide the latest news and information to the community. The coronavirus pandemic and recent public protests have caused some Coronado residents to ask how and where they can receive this news and information.
The City provides many ways for citizens to stay up to speed:
|
|
Are you active on Twitter? We are. Follow us at @CoronadoCity.
|
|
Do you prefer Facebook? Like us at CityofCoronado to keep up.
|
|
Prefer a text or email for traffic advisories or bridge closures? Sign up to receive them via the Coronado Police Department's Nixle account.
|
|
Need an email reminder that a meeting is coming up or the council agenda is online? Sign up to the City's eNotification system.
|
|
Are you looking for COVID-19 news? The City issues a newsletter on an as-needed basis with news and information related to the pandemic.
|
|
Check the City’s website to find news, press releases and information about public meetings and events, as well as a COVID-19 web page.
|
|
Serology Testing Update
The City Council suspended this week the development of a Coronado-centric community COVID-19 serology testing program.
After consulting with Sharp Coronado Hospital, Sharp officials have indicated support for a primarily academic study to further the scientific understanding of the disease and the rate and spread of infection. However, it would not be a study intended to be a service to individuals nor one that would help Coronado advance more rapidly to the next phase in the reopening plan. This is in accordance with the state of California and the Center for Disease Control that COVID-19 serology testing is not to be used to determine immunity, determine asymptomatic shedders, or be used as a sole basis to diagnose or exclude COVID-19. Due to the limitations on serology testing, results may or may not be released to participants.
At its meeting Tuesday, June 2, council members agreed to hold off for now on the program until it is clear what the results mean, that there is an understanding of the decisions that can be made from the results, and there is an understanding that the results may be provided to individuals without reservations or restriction.
|
|
Lawn Bowling Green Open for Play
The Coronado Lawn Bowling Green reopened at the John D. Spreckels Center with the required San Diego County reopening plan. Play resumed Friday, May 29. The reopening plan includes a list of physical distancing and sanitation measures that will be put in place to protect Lawn Bowling Green members and participants.
Those playing must wear face masks, have their temperatures checked, and only two sets of two participants will be allowed on two “rinks,” or lanes, at a time. The available rinks are several rinks apart. Reservations are required. Restrooms will be available to participants and members only. They will be cleaned frequently. Equipment may not be shared.
|
|
The San Diego County public health officer recently amended an order to allow for tennis to resume under monitored limited conditions. The first courts to reopen were those at the Glorietta Bay Tennis Center. The Cays Tennis Courts are next, set to open for reservations on June 5. Play will resume Saturday, June 6.
The rules at both facilities require that no more than two individual participants or one household group is allowed on the court at a time. Doubles play is permitted but players must be from the same household group. The courts must be monitored, and masks and temperature checks required. Play will require registration, payment of registration fees of $5 per resident per court and $20 per nonresident per court for a 1-hour spot and abiding by the hours of operation.
For the Cays, play is proposed for three days a week -- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday -- from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. because the courts need to be supervised. One-on-one tennis lessons have resumed at both courts
|
|
Osher Lecture This Week
This week’s free Osher lecture is “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Rise of Motown and the Soul of Stax; Soundtrack of the Vietnam War.”
This online presentation, from Osher’s Master Class, will discuss the political and economic history that shaped the 60’s and how it profoundly influenced the evolution of popular music and its reception. Click the button below to access this week’s free video lecture.
This video will be available for online viewing now through Sunday, June 7. All our Osher lectures are brought to you through our continued partnership with UC San Diego’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Presenter Robert Cancel is Professor Emeritus of Comparative Literature at UC San Diego. He specialized in African and Caribbean Literature and also taught courses on 20th Century literature and culture.
|
|
Blood Drive in Coronado
The City of Coronado continues to partner with the American Red Cross to host blood drives in the Coronado Community Center.
The Red Cross currently has an urgent need for blood.
To date the city has hosted two successful drives. The next drive is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Nautilus Room. An additional drive is scheduled for mid-July and both drives are taking online reservations. Donations are by appointment only through the Red Cross website.
At each event, the Red Cross staff follow the highest standards of safety and infection control and have implemented additional precautions in light of COVID-19.
|
|
COVID-19 Health Resources and Links
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
