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On the last day of the year, Brazilian beaches presented two types of images: some crowded and others blocked from access. In the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic, some municipalities decided to prohibit bathers from entering the arenas. In others, however, there were crowds.
Some beaches on the coast of São Paulo and Fortaleza began the day with protective barriers and constant police patrols to prevent bathers from entering. In Santos, the city government blocked access to the sand strip and other places at risk of crowds. The city has a sanitary barrier mounted at its entrances.
In Guarujá, also in Baixada Santista, the situation is similar. In both cities, the beaches will be closed until Saturday morning (2). In São Vicente and Bertioga, on the other hand, the closure will be only tonight and tomorrow morning (1).
The other beaches of the Baixada: Praia Grande, Mongaguá, Itanhaém and Peruíbe kept the beaches open, alleging difficulties in imposing blockades. Even with sanitary barriers at the entrances to Praia Grande, the beaches were filled this Thursday.
Blockades were also installed on the beaches of Fortaleza and Recife.
Full beaches in Rio
The heat of more than 30 degrees and the open weather attracted bathers to the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema this morning (31), but the sand strip on the two most famous beaches in Rio de Janeiro was not as crowded as at the end of sunny weeks in recent months. However, it was possible to find people without masks in the sand and walking around the edges.
To contain the formation of agglomerations, the mayor’s office and the state government imposed a series of restrictions, such as reducing transport hours, prohibiting parking and even blocking access to the boardwalk from 8 pm today.
Additional measures were taken to prevent covid-19 after the city already announced the cancellation of the official New Year’s Eve party, which generally brings together more than 2 million people on Copacabana beach. In addition to suspending its own fireworks display and banning any other, the city government decided to prevent events and parties from taking place on the arenas, the boardwalk, and kiosks.
Taking the measures into account, the kiosks opened today in Ipanema and Copacabana operated only in their granted areas, without the presence of live music or playing areas in the sand. Despite this, most of the regulars were without masks and many tables were arranged without distancing.
Among passersby on the boardwalk, disrespect for wearing a mask was also prevalent this morning, even among those who practiced sports such as running or cycling. Municipal guards on the Copacabana boardwalk instructed vendors to pick up the merchandise, and cars parked irregularly on Avenida Atlántica were towed away.
Another restriction imposed by the municipal authorities was the prohibition of shipowners from staying at fixed points on the beach. When crossing sections of both beaches, the report found no drink stalls on the sand. According to the city council, an irregularly erected tent was removed from the shore and tables, chairs, coolers and other items were seized.
Although the New Year’s Eve party was canceled, the movement on the boardwalk and in the internal streets and on the boardwalk of Copacabana was great this morning, with tourists and locals filling up bars, restaurants and supermarkets.
Traditional characters on New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro, flower sellers were present in Copacabana, both in the internal streets and on the promenade, but in fewer numbers than in previous years. Besides jumping the waves, offering flowers to Iemanjá, throwing them into the sea, is one of the customs of many Cariocas at the turn of the year.
* With Agência Brasil
