Rio’s Mayor Announces Beach Reopening Only After Vaccine; R$107 Fine for Sunbathers

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rio de Janeiro‘s Mayor Marcelo Crivella, detailed on Thursday afternoon, July 9th how the city’s new economic flexibility stage will be conducted.

The city government announced that, starting next weekend, it will be fining sunbathers who violate the ban on beach outings. “We are going to impose a R$107 (US$20) fine starting this weekend for the infraction of disobedience,” the Mayor warned.

Crivella initially said the fine for disobedience was R$127, but the information was later corrected; the correct fine amount is R$107.

According to Crivella, sunbathers should only be allowed on the beach after a vaccine against Covid-19 is available.

“We expect the vaccine to be available well before this summer. Such places where one can not wear a mask tend to be left for after the vaccine,” Crivella said. In this new stage, individual sports activities are still allowed on beaches, but sunbathers are banned from staying on the sand.

Bars and restaurants reopen

The first phase of the third stage allows bars and restaurants to serve customers at tables, releases more activities on the sand, and allows gyms to reopen.

However, there are rules the population must follow. “Stage three had a significant impact, so we divided it into two stages.”

Currently, 71.6 percent of the ICU beds in the public network and 89 percent in the private network are occupied.

“The private network is very quick to mobilize and demobilize bed supply”, emphasized Flávio Graça, fiscal superintendent of Health Monitoring, emphasizing that several hospitals have already demobilized wards for patients with Covid-19.

According to Graça, Rio de Janeiro is experiencing a downward curve in deaths, with little variation from one week to the next. “The number of cases reported for influenza syndrome is declining, although it is already winter. From the start of the recovery plan, bed occupancy has dropped,” said the superintendent.

What is allowed in Phase 3

• The rules already in force for snack bars and restaurants to operate until 11 PM are maintained;
• Street shops and businesses can operate from 11 AM to 5 PM, with 1/3 of capacity;
• Shopping malls can operate from 12 noon to 10 PM;
• Beauty and cosmetic salons and tattoo studios maintain the same standards;
• Gyms may operate, with restrictions, and swimming lessons are allowed;
• Lottery houses operate from 8 AM to 6 PM;
• Municipal school canteens may operate, but classes remain suspended;
• Street vendors may work provided they have a fixed location, and are still banned on beaches;
• Beaches allowed only for individual sports practices and activities, such as surfing;
• Tourist spots remain closed;
• Use of recreational areas on public roads is allowed;
• Soccer matches continue behind closed doors;
• Olympic villages and public roads are open;
• Art and crafts markets are allowed.

According to Rio’s City Hall, the increase in the flow of people on the streets has not been reflected in the number of cases and is within planning projections.

” The disk-aglomeração (service for reporting crowds) fell from 12,300 calls before phase 1 to 2,000 calls,” said Graça, who believes the indicators are favorable to adopt up to phase 6.

For almost a month, after water sports were allowed on the beaches, the Rio shore has been experiencing intense flows and crowding on the sand.

Source: G1