Brazil: Rio beachgoers face fine for not wearing face mask

Authorities patrolled the famous Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday to fine those breaking the rule on wearing face masks in a public area.

The virus measure was put in place by the city's mayor, Marcelo Crivella, in an attempt to shift life back toward normality but to avoid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Under the rule only people practicing individual sports in the sand or in the sea were allowed to visit Ipanema beach.

Crivella also delayed the opening of the beach for sunbathing until a vaccine was found or until the risk of infection among the population was near zero.

However many beachgoers in Ipanema beach over the weekend sought to enjoy the sun and sand - without wearing face masks.

Police officers and Municipality Guards on the beach were asking people to leave whilst handing out fines of 20 US dollars to those without a mask.

Ipanema Beach, one of the most valuable spaces for the residents of Rio de Janeiro, is also a place where hundreds make their living.

Benildo Novos rents beaches and umbrellas there and said that it would be impossible for him to earn money if he has wait until a vaccine is found.

"How are we going to live?" he asked.

Brazil is the world's second country with the highest rate of victims and confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Almost 72,000 people died since the start outbreak, and nearly 2 million people have been infected.

Experts said that there is a significant undercount due to lack of testing and that the number of cases in the big cities is falling, but the virus is moving to the countryside where other cities and small towns are now suffering from the pandemic.

(Image Credit Pixabay)