San Diego Officials Criticize Gov. Newsom On Reports Of Order To Close Beaches

Several officials in San Diego County were critical of Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday amid reports that the governor will order all California beaches closed starting Friday.

No official announcement has been made yet, but Newsom plans to announce the closures Thursday, according to a bulletin that was reportedly sent to all California police chiefs notifying them of the closures.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer took to Twitter Thursday morning to criticize the move.

"San Diegans have been following the rules set by our pubic health officials and lifeguards since beaches reopened this week," Faulconer said in a tweet. "A sudden state ban on every single beach — regardless of the facts on the ground — sends the wrong message to regions where people are acting responsibly."

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob also echoed Faulconer's sentiment in a letter addressed to the governor posted on Twitter.

"While I understand concerns about packed beaches, not every region of the state has seen huge crowds and shouldn’t be treated with a broad brush," she said in the tweet. "San Diego County has done a good job on its beaches with physical distancing, face coverings and other protocols. Our residents did everything we asked."

Supervisor Greg Cox also sent a letter to the governor asking him to reconsider closing all beaches in the state.

Beaches in San Diego, Oceanside, Encinitas, Coronado and Imperial Beach reopened for recreation activities on Monday, but beaches in Carlsbad, Del Mar and Solana Beach remained closed.

Del Mar was set to reopen its beaches for recreation activities Thursday morning, but city officials have withdrawn those plans because of reports of the governor's plan to close all beaches.

Group gatherings, parking in lots and lying down on the beach are still not allowed anywhere in San Diego County.