Calif. beachgoers seek surf, sun before closures

California headed into the Fourth of July weekend Friday under classic sunny summer skies and new health orders that temporarily put many popular beaches off-limits and canceled fireworks shows in an effort to prevent runaway coronavirus infections.

Hundreds of people took to the surf and sand Friday in Orange County, where beaches are scheduled to close over the weekend.

The holiday beach closures began Friday from Los Angeles County northward through Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

To the south in Orange County, hugely popular beaches such as Huntington and Newport were to close Saturday and Sunday, while San Diego did not plan any shutdowns.

Many Northern California beaches were open but parking was closed at some to reduce the potential for crowding.

With testing showing a rising COVID-19 positivity rate and increasing hospitalizations,

Gov. Gavin Newsom has rolled back or limited some of the reopening of businesses in Los Angeles and 18 other counties encompassing nearly three-quarters of the state's population.

For most people, the new coronavirus 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, including pneumonia, and death.