Rio Residents Form Lines to Visit Reopened Parks on First Weekend after Quarantine

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – As occurred earlier when the beaches and bars were released, Rio‘s residents lined up yesterday morning to enjoy the first Sunday of reopened leisure areas in the city’s parks.

After four months closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the venues were reopened last Thursday, July 9th.

In the morning and early afternoon at Lage Park, near the Botanical Garden, operating following an authorization from the Chico Mendes Biodiversity Conservation Institute (ICMBio), there was a one-block-long line waiting to get in.

However, the rules for visitors to access the city’s parks are strict. In the Lage Park, only 200 people are allowed in per hour. Every ten people leaving allow another ten to enter. At the palace, where the swimming pool, the Plage bistro and the design shop are located, the maximum limit is 100 people.

There are signs and sanitizer gel dispensers throughout the area. The temperature of each visitor is checked with a digital thermometer at the entrance: anyone with over 38 degrees is not allowed in, neither is anyone not wearing a mask. Sanitizing one’s hands with gel before entering is mandatory. The operating hours have also been reduced.

In the Tijuca National Park, which also reopened on Thursday, access is only allowed for the practice of physical activities. Visitors must wear masks and keep a two-meter distance between people. Group sports activities should have a maximum of ten participants.