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DOUBLING DOWN ON GROUP GATHERINGS TO HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS--THAT INCLUDES DISCOURAGING PEOPLE WHICH UNINTENTIONALLY MAY FIND THEMSELVES IN A COMPROMISING POSITION AT LOCAL BEACHES, REC TRAILS AND PARKS. THE MESSAGE FROM AUTHORITIES? THE STATE 'STAY AT HOME ORDER' HAS TEETH - AND YOU COULD FACE A MISDEMEANOR IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES. ACTION NEWS REPORTER PHIL GOMEZ HAS MORE ON WHETHER SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BEACH VISITORS ARE COMPLYING. "STATE AND LOCAL BEACHES REMAIN OPEN BUT THERE ARE BARRIERS IN PLACE TO DISCOURAGE SOCIAL GATHERING HERE AN SOME PEOPLE AREN'T TAKING IT SERIOUSLY." "WHERE ARE YOU FROM? SACRAMENTO! SO, YOU DROVE DOWN HERE TO GO TO THE BEACH TODAY? SURFING! SURFING? YOU KNOW ABOUT COVID? YEAH! HE HAS IT! HE HAS IT! I MIGHT HAVE IT" SOME OF THESE VISITORS ARE TRAVELING FROM HEAVILY INFECTED COUNTIES TO OUR NORTH AND ELSEWHERE - DESPITE THE STATE ORDER- "COMING TO SANTA CRUZ TO SURF IS NOT ESSENTIAL. IT IS NOT WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO RECREATE AND WE HAVE ALLOWED PEOPLE TO THAT BUT THEY HAVE TO PRACTICE THE GUIDELINES IN THE ORDER " COASTAL PARKING AREAS ARE CLOSED. CAMPGROUNDS SHUTTERED AND VOLLEYBALL NETS HAVE BEEN REMOVED TO ENSURE PEOPLE FOLLOW SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES "I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR A ROAD TRIP TO A STATE BEACH. THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED TIME FOR US AND WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO STRESS: WE ARE NOT DESTINATION AREAS RIGHT NOW" YOU CAN STILL BICYCLE AND WALK THROUGH PARKS IF ITS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, WHILE MAINTAINING THAT SIX FOOT SPACE HOWEVER, THERE IS THIS STERN REMINDER - THE STAY AT HOME ORDER - ALLOWS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COME AFTER YOU IF THEY NEED TO - MISDEMEANOR CHARGES COULD BE HANDED DOWN.. "THIS IS NOT A HOLIDAY. I REALIZE PEOPLE ARE OFF WORK AND TEHY'RE OFF OF SCHOOL BUT THIS IS NOT A VACATION." "STATE PARK RANGERS AREN'T CITING PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE EDUCATING THEM ABOUT THE HAZARDS OF RECREATIONAL GATHERINGS. IN SANTA CRUZ, PHIL GOMEZ, KSBW ACTION NEWS 8"

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Local agencies are doubling down on group gatherings to help slow the spread of coronavirus--that included discouraging people which unintentionally may find themselves in a compromising position at local beaches, rec trails and parks.The message from authorities? The state's stay-at-home order has teeth-and you could face a misdemeanor if you don't follow the rules.State and local beaches remain open but there are barriers in place to discourage social gathering here some people aren't taking it seriously. "Where are you from? Sacramento! So, you drove down here to go to the beach today? Surfing! Surfing? You know about COVID-19? Yeah! He has it! He has it! I might have it."Some of these visitors are traveling from heavily infected counties to our North and elsewhere--despite the state order-surfers and hikers are among them. "Coming to Santa Cruz to surf is not essential. It is not we understand the need to recreate and we have allowed people to that but they have to practice the guidelines in the order " said, Santa Cruz Spokesman, Jason Hoppin.Coastal parking areas are closed. Campgrounds shuttered and volleyball nets removed to ensure people follow social distancing guidelines. "I would like to stress that now is not the time for a road trip to a state beach. This is an unprecedented time for us and we're really trying to stress: We are not destination areas right now," said Gabe McKenna, Public Safety Superintendent for California State Parks. You can still bicycle and walk through parks if it's in your community while maintaining that six-foot space, however, there is this stern reminder-the stay at home order- allows law enforcement to come after you if they need to-misdemeanor charges could be handed down. "This is not a holiday. I realize people are off work and they're off of school but this is not a vacation," said Hoppin.For the most part, people are following the rules when visiting the beaches and parks. By this weekend the county plans to add extra deputy patrols in Pleasure Point and to close parking lots in the Hook and Moran Park areas.