After just a week of reopening, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk shutters again

The boardwalk, California’s oldest amusement park, was the first amusement park in the state to reopen to the public during the pandemic.

Santa Cruz County health officials reported that the number of COVID-19 cases doubled in recent weeks, as the county was told on Tuesday that it had moved back into the more restrictive red tier. The red tier in California indicates “substantial” spread of the virus and dictates that amusement parks cannot open.

Some outdoor attractions on the boardwalk will remain open, such as food, shopping, boardwalk racers and pedal karts.

All other rides, mini golf and the bowling alley will be closed.

The announcement on the attraction’s Facebook account states that guests with upcoming ride access reservations will automatically be refunded.

The county spent two weeks in tier 3, also called the “orange tier,” before being sent back to tier 2, the red tier, this week.

Beyond the closing of amusement parks, the change means the maximum indoor capacity of many indoor businesses moves from 50% to 25%, while gyms must return to 10% of their maximum indoor capacity.

Businesses such as offices, wineries and bars at which food is not served must also close again.