The City of Costa Mesa recognizes that the Fourth of July holiday comes with traditions of block parties and neighborhood parades that many hold dear.

Unfortunately, as we all deal with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rules regarding mass gatherings from state and federal public health officials, July 4 parades and block parties are prohibited this year in Costa Mesa.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “A gathering refers to a planned or spontaneous event, indoors or outdoors, with a small number of people participating or a large number of people in attendance such as a community event or gathering, concert, festival, conference, parade, wedding, or sporting event. The more people an individual interacts with at a gathering and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and COVID-19 spreading.”

The City of Costa Mesa urges all residents to enjoy the July 4 holiday by practicing social distance measures, wearing a face covering, frequently washing hands, cleaning and disinfecting common areas and staying home if you are sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

Also, high risk members of the community, including senior citizens and people of any age that suffer from chronic diseases, need to be especially aware of their risks for COVID-19 and should avoid gatherings where they cannot appropriately social distance.

We wish you all a happy and safe Fourth of July.