Rio Residents Disregard Isolation, Head to the Beach Over Holiday

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Despite the daily increase in the number of confirmed cases and deaths due to the novel coronavirus, part of Rio de Janeiro’s residents decided to ignore the isolation rules on Friday, May 1st holiday.

The bustling sidewalk along the beaches of Rio’s west and south zones was intense in the late morning. And in Barra da Tijuca and Recreio, many families were spotted on the beach.

The most intense flow was seen at Pepê beach, in Barra da Tijuca. Families with small children could be seen playing by the sea. In threes, couples, or even alone, some people sunbathed or used the opportunity to jog or walk. In smaller numbers, the same could be seen on the Reserva beach in Recreio.

On the boardwalks, the crowds of people were even greater. In Barra, most people were not wearing protective masks. In Leblon, Ipanema, and Copacabana, many people used the opportunity to jog or ride bicycles, but the sandy beaches were virtually empty – a reflection of a greater number of State Police officers in the area, some patrolling on motorcycles.

Source: Estadão Conteúdo