The city of Manhattan Beach, California, is really concerned about a recent increase in COVID-19 cases.
In fact, the parents of the city are tan concerned that they have issued a new edict for their subjects: not to be sitting on public property.
True: residents will no longer be able to use city seats on publicly owned land; officials removed all seats this weekend, the New York Post reported Sunday night.
What are they doing?
The coastal city, located about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles and within Los Angeles County, saw its number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 nearly double in the past two months.
According to Manhattan Beach Twitter feed, the city had 425 cases on Nov. 1. As of last Saturday, the city had 821 cases. And the daily number of new cases set record highs on December 31 (21 cases) and January 1 (26 cases).
So city officials decided it was time to take action. This action took the form of a ban on sitting.
Image source: Twitter / Manhattan Beach City
As of 10pm on Sunday night, all publicly owned outdoor seats were closed to the public. Tables and chairs were removed until further notice.
Image source: Twitter / Manhattan Beach City
Mayor Suzanne Hadley said in the city statement that she tweeted that people should stay home except to go to work, pick up “basics” or exercise.
There was nothing in town about where people outside of exercise could sit and rest if they needed a break.
But officials who have helped paralyze local businesses with their restrictions were quick to encourage citizens (who were simultaneously told to stay home) to go out and support “our local businesses that offer home-based services. collection, stopping, withdrawal and delivery. ”
More from the mayor:
We must continue to respond to the changing dynamics of this pandemic. We ask residents, if possible, to stay home and mainly go out to look for work and basic items or exercise outdoors.
This recent rise in the virus is significant, despite good news last month from Manhattan Beach firefighters who received some of the first vaccines against COVID-19. Although public living areas will be temporarily closed, we continue to support our local businesses that offer pick-up, drop-off, transportation and delivery services.
Image source: Twitter / Manhattan Beach City
As the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to increase in MB and across the county, the city is closing its outer seat … https://t.co/uK7MMY7oBL
– Manhattan Beach City (@Manhattan Beach City)1609641935.0
(H / T: HotAir)