People are keeping their distance, even in sunny weather

After a couple weeks of rain, stuck indoors, people took advantage of some sunny weather to get outside. But are they practicing good social distancing as they enjoy the good weather?

At Dune Peninsula Park in Tacoma, visitors said most people were keeping their distance.

“I think everybody that I’ve noticed down here has tried to do their best at social distancing,” said Gil Chapa.

“We all live in the same household, we’re walking together,” said Lina Hammoud, who visited the park with her mother and daughter. “Anybody else that does not live in our household, we keep a distance.”

KIRO 7 crews also saw good social distancing practices at Chambers Bay in University Place, and at Seattle's Golden Gardens.

That wasn't the case three weeks ago when social distancing guidelines first began. With time off from work and school combined with a little sunny weather people flocked to parks, beaches, and hiking trails.

Now Metro Parks Tacoma has closed its parks and all facilities like parking lots and bathrooms. Acting public information officer Nancy Johnson says park employees are seeing most obey the rules, but not everyone. Especially young people who would ordinarily be on spring break with friends.

“We just need to remind folks that it’s not about a gathering experience. Your parks are really closed other than for such activities as walking and cycling and enjoying nature,” said Johnson.

And after several weeks of social distancing most people seem to be getting the message

“I think they saw how the toll got higher, the numbers increased,” said Latoya Bell at Dune Peninsula. “So they decided hey, if this is the day we’re going to come out, stay six feet apart.”

“My friend and I had a car date,” said Serene Hammoud. “So we saw each other but we separated via care. We didn’t touch each other or anything like that.”

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