December 31, 2020, local time, on the last day before 2021, in order to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus caused by gatherings, governments across Brazil have tightened epidemic control measures, especially for coastal areas that are very easy to cause crowds.
It is reported that in the state of São Paulo, the country’s hardest hit by the epidemic, the municipal government of Santos, has adopted closed control measures on the coastal area, including closing beaches and other areas at risk of crowd gathering.
In Guarua, another coastal city nearby, the local government has taken similar measures. The closure of beaches in the two cities will continue until the early morning of Saturday (January 2).
In the city of Rio de Janeiro, southeast Brazil, the local government has also taken control measures on the beach area to reduce crowd gathering. It is reported that although tourists and local residents can still be seen in the beach area on the morning of the day, the crowd density has decreased significantly compared with the previous few months.
In the city of Fortaleza, the capital of the state of Ceara in the northeast of the country, and Recife, the capital of the state of Pernambuco, the local government has also closed the beach area, cancelled the traditional seaside fireworks celebrations, and replaced it with a live television performance for the New Year’s Eve.
At the same time, government departments also cooperate with the military and police to ensure that there will be no crowds gathering in the beach area on New Year’s Eve.
In Salvador, the capital of the northeastern state of Bahia, the local government has closed down the famous tourist attraction Baha’i Coast from 17:00 on December 31, 2020, while all beach areas of the city will be closed for one day on Friday (January 1).
Santa Catarina in the south is also facing a more serious epidemic situation, with 5,000 cumulative deaths so far.
Two major coastal cities in the state, including the capital Florianopolis and Bane Ariyo Camborio, have canceled beach fireworks performances and set up roadblocks along coastal roads to strictly prohibit vehicles from stopping.
The city of Baneariyocamboriu also decided to ban the operation of stalls in the beach area from 18:00 on the 18:00 on the 1st to 6 o’clock the next day, and violators will be fined and the items operated will be confiscated.
