Rio de Janeiro has decreed the total closure of its beaches due to the coronavirus pandemic

The mayor of Rio de Janeiro announced on Friday the beach closure, symbol of Rio life, for the weekend, with the aim of stopping the spread of the coronavirus in one of the most affected states in Brazil.

From Saturday it remains prohibited “The permanence of individuals on the beach, whether for sport, swimming or for economic activities“Said the mayor Eduardo Paes at a press conference in which he described the situation as “very critical“.

It will also not be allowed to park on the promenade. -except residents of the area- and entry of tourist buses will be prohibited in the city.

The authorities had already banned on March 5 the operation of bars and shops after 9 p.m. and the permanence of people in the street between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Paes said on Monday he would announce “more restrictive measures”, after a scheduled meeting with the scientific committee which advises him.

The intensive care units of the city’s public network record a 95% occupancy rate, according to the authorities.

Although representing less risk of contagion than closed places, Rio’s beaches recorded large crowds on weekends, with most people without masks and a large number of street vendors.

“I’m calling Cariocas: it’s time to stay home», Implored Paes.

The state of Rio de Janeiro, with 17 million inhabitants, concentrates 34,697 of the 287,499 deaths recorded in Brazil to date. It is the third state with the highest number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (201), behind Amazonas (282) and Roraima (209), according to data from the Ministry of Health.

Like all of Brazil, Rio de Janeiro is running a slow vaccination program, which began in January with health personnel and which is vaccinating 75-year-old adults this week.

(With information from EFE)

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