Local officials announced Thursday afternoon that all events, programs and activities hosted by the city of Santa Monica and other groups will be cancelled in alignment with guidances issued by state and county public health officials.
The list of cancelled city events includes all recreational classes and the Mar. 21 Airport Art Walk. Parks, public recreational facilities and beaches will remain open and the Santa Monica Farmers Market will remain open for the time being, said city spokesperson Constance Farrell.
All Santa Monica Public Library branches will be closed Mar. 14 through Mar. 31, except for the Pico Branch Library, which will close starting Friday. The Virginia Avenue Park campus facilities will be closed Friday through Mar. 16.
The city will also close City Hall to the public and suspend all public meetings except Planning Commission and City Council through the end of March.
Residents and businesses who need to do business with the city can call 310-458-8301, email info@santamonica.gov or visit santamonica.gov/coronavirus to get more information on how to proceed, Farrell said.
“In cooperation with federal, state and county guidance, we are taking bold and aggressive steps to reduce the spread of illness — while continuing to serve our community with vital services,” said City Manager Rick Cole. “This is a time of social distancing, but Santa Monica’s strong social fabric is what will see us through this challenging time.”
The city of Malibu announced Thursday afternoon that it has cancelled or postponed all non-essential city-hosted and sponsored programs and events until Apr. 30. Public meetings will continue.
Santa Monica schools also closed, moved to remote instruction or cancelled all non-essential events, although they confirmed that no students or staff had tested positive for COVID-19.
Officials encouraged residents to maintain a distance of at least six feet from other people, stay home if they are sick, wash their hands often and avoid touching their faces.
"We appreciate your cooperation as we all work together to follow the guidance of public health authorities to mitigate the impact of the novel coronavirus across our larger community," Farrell said.
As of Wednesday, 32 people in Los Angeles County have tested positive for coronavirus and a woman older than 60 with underlying health issues has died, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
madeleine@smdp.com
