End of quarantine: Feira Hippie returns with more space for the public – General

Sunday begins, little by little, to return to normal in Belo Horizonte. This morning, Avenida Afonso Pena, in the center of the capital, was closed again due to the traffic of cars to accommodate craftsmen who stayed home for six months due to the social isolation necessary to contain their pandemic of the new coronavrus.

The resumption of the Art, Crafts and Variety Producers Fair, known as Hippie Fair, was marked by many visitors who occupied the avenue. Accustomed to receiving tourists, many people from outside have not yet attended. The marketers consulted by the report of the State of Minas It should be noted that the audience that came to the place, in its great majority, was Belo Horizonte himself who decided to take a walk.

Some tents were empty as there are restrictions for workers in the at-risk group. Even so, many elderly artisans worked on the site. The same happened with customers who, despite having comorbidities, left home to buy.

I manifest

Although they have received authorization to operate, the I feed of the fair protested the first day of reopening. This was due to the fact that they had to be relocated into two groups: one on Rua Esprito Santo, between Avenida Afonso Pena and Rua dos Carijs, and another section on Avenida Ivares Cabral, between Avenida Afonso Pena and Rua Gois.

With shouts of “food, exclusion”, the protesters assure that they are being “expelled”, “pulled by the edges”, since they did not want to have to leave Afonso Pena Avenue.

Dressed in green and yellow, Rodrigo Netcheka Moura joined the movement and was repressed by the majority. “Sometimes I think that inside there is a candidate for councilman who defends the fair in line with this mayor who destroyed our city and is destroying our fair,” said the man. “I am a patriot, a Brazilian and I fight for a better Brazil, neither in the political idol nor in the political party. Our Hippie Fair of international fame. It is absurd that the city makes this dictatorship to remove the food court from the fair and put it on Esprito Santo street, “he added.

In a note, the City of Belo Horizonte reported that the measure was necessary to guarantee the health security, both from exhibitors and users. “For this, it was necessary to segregate the food sector, since people need to remove their mask to consume food and beverages, increasing the risk of contamination. PBH also highlights that it has changed its location according to the indication chosen by the group of exhibitors and, while the pandemic lasts, this condition must be in force “, says the text.

Happy move

The artisans who work at the fair are happy with the reopening. “The expectation I had today would be more confusing, but I am optimistic,” said Marcia Regina Vieira. Marketer for 40 years, agrees with the demonstration. “I think they are right because they were a bit separated, but I think everything will return to its place, in a matter of time, and God willing, it will be fine.”

Lindacy de Souza Silva has also worked on the site for 40 years and agrees with the movement, but says that “the important thing is that the fair is back.” Despite not having sold much until 10am, she is pleased to have the opportunity to display her handmade bags one by one. “It is slow but good. I am very happy to be able to return taking all the precautions, “he said.

Sunday’s tour was highly anticipated by Silvania Ribeiro, 48. “I’m enjoying the fair that came back with people from afar, it was much better,” says the technician in clinical pathology. She went shopping with her daughter and son-in-law. “I took the opportunity to take a walk too. I always visited the fair and missed my home, ”said the customer, who had already gotten a shoe and a flower arrangement halfway through the trip.

Curiosity

In the midst of the shuttle movement of customers, a man catches the eye and makes the audience laugh. Paulo Roberto, known as “Chito”, who sells miniatures in the form of feces. “Look at the fresh shitIt has top-quality coc ”, he shouts to attract customers.

The product, made by him with sawdust and cement, costs R $ 15. “On the street they sell everything, so I thought about making something that nobody sells. Today I already sold three, ”says the merchant, who has the best reward for having fun with Fregus.

Preveno e proteo

As a consequence of the new modality, with greater distance between the tents, in addition to the 90 agents of the Municipal Civil Guard, more than 100 military police officers reinforced police surveillance.

“We are already planning the surveillance since the announcement of the reopening of the fair, “says Major Rafael Rafel Coura Cavalcante. The military assures that the monitoring began in the early morning, when the marketers began to pack their stalls. We have a larger perimeter, that’s why we have the support from the Police Academy. There are about 100 more police officers to take care of the fair, “he explains.

The forecast is that the police reinforcement to prevent robberies, robberies and other crimes, will stay until 4 in the afternoon, but if necessary, the military guarantees that the time can be extended.

In a decree published in the Official Directory of the Municipality on Thursday (24), the city establishes the rules that merchants and regular customers must follow to avoid the transmission of the new coronavirus.

More space

With the new regulations, the fair occupies a larger space, going from Praa Sete, in the block between Carijs and Rio de Janeiro streets, to Rua dos Guajajaras.

The main precautions to observe include the mandatory use of mask by all regular customers, including marketers; sanitize the hands of visitors whenever they request merchandise and prohibition by the tasters.

In addition, traders are responsible for orienting the lines and marking spaces to avoid crowds, observing the distance of two meters between people.

Live music shows, dances and theatrical performances are also not allowed, as they can generate concentration of people. In the food sector, attention to food handling must be reinforced.

People cannot consume food and drinks around the tents, just sit on tables and chairs that need to be cleaned and disinfected after changing clients.