by The Surfrider Foundation
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our community has experienced everything from physical sickness to fear and anxiety, but this is also a time when we must rely upon each other for our collective safety and well-being. As Surfrider members, we greatly enjoy the outdoors, particularly the beach and the ocean, which is why we’ve fought for decades to keep our beaches healthy and accessible, and will continue to do so. We believe nature should be a place of refuge for all; however, we also believe in being responsible citizens acting to protect the health and safety of our community.
In response to the coronavirus crisis, public health experts have emphasized the necessity of social distancing and explained the dangers of crowding into wilderness and beach areas. Surfrider therefore encourages everyone to adhere to state and local laws and health department guidelines designed to protect our communities and prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes practicing social distancing and accepting temporary closures of public resources including libraries, parks and beaches.
Surfrider continues to be a staunch defender of public beach access rights; however, in these extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are needed to protect our health and livelihoods so we can, in due course, protect and enjoy our ocean, waves and beaches in the future.
While these best practices can help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission while beach-going, leaving your house will include a level of risk for spreading or contracting COVID-19. Please stay home as much as possible, recreate with caution, and learn more about potential transmission risks of COVID-19 and beach water quality.
Below are Surfrider’s recommended guidelines for beachgoers during the COVID-19 pandemic:
