California scrambles as maskless crowds flood vacation hotspots

Tens of thousands flood Santa Monica Pier as authorities send mixed messages about coronavirus safety

Authorities across southern California are scrambling to contain large holiday crowds on beaches, boardwalks and piers this weekend, anxious about a possible new surge in Covid-19 cases.

But they face a restive public eager to party in the sun after more than a year of lockdowns, and appear to have few tools at their disposal to enforce mask-wearing and social distancing.