RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The beaches of Rio de Janeiro were crowded again on Sunday, September 13th. The intense heat, around 38°C (100°F), was an invitation to swim in the sea. But remaining on the sand is still banned.
The city hall decree in force allows the following activities on beaches:
- Swimming;
- Circulation of vendors (between 7 AM and 6 PM);
- Physical activities, with mandatory wearing of masks.
In addition to the permanence of beachgoers on the sand strip, the following are banned:
- Sale of alcoholic beverages;
- Beach Soccer;
- Sunchair and tent rental.
Walking on public roads without a mask is subject to a R$107 fine.
However, the restrictions have not been respected by either locals or tourists. On Saturday, September 12th, the beaches were overcrowded, with beachgoers filling the sand strip with sunchairs and tents.
By Saturday, the state of Rio de Janeiro had already counted almost 17,000 deaths by Covid-19. In the capital alone, the number of deaths from the disease has exceeded 10,000.
In an attempt to discourage beach crowds, on Friday, September 11th, the state government published a decree banning residents of other regions from parking their cars near the shore. On Saturday alone, the city government towed almost 90 vehicles.
Cold front
According to Alerta Rio, the weather should remain stable, with clear skies and high temperatures until Monday, September 14th. On Tuesday, September 15th, a cold front crossing the ocean will bring humidity to the city, turning the sky overcast. There is a forecast for scattered light showers at any time and temperatures will drop.
The weather will stabilize again from Wednesday, September 16th, when the sky will remain cloudy, but with no rain forecast and the temperatures will rise again.
Source: G1