- Title: Brazil's bustling Copacabana beach empty over coronavirus concerns
- Date: 22nd March 2020
- Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (MARCH 22, 2020) (REUTERS) VIEW OF EMPTY COPACABANA BEACH VARIOUS, POLICE TALKING TO MAN, ASKING HIM TO LEAVE THE BEACH AND STAY INSIDE POLICE VEHICLE PLAYING OUT RECORDED ANNOUNCEMENT IN ENGLISH ASKING PEOPLE TO STAY INSIDE VARIOUS, POLICE TALKING TO PEOPLE ON BEACH / AUDIO OF ANNOUNCEMENT IN BACKGROUND POLICE WALKING ON BEACH / AUDIO OF ANNOUNCEMENT IN PORTUGUESE IN BACKGROUND MAN WALKING ON BEACH / AUDIO OF ANNOUNCEMENT IN SPANISH IN BACKGROUND POLICE VEHICLE PLAYING OUT RECORDED ANNOUNCEMENT IN SPANISH (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED ITALIAN TOURIST, SAYING: "So, there is nobody on the beach and it's really, really sad. I'm from Italy and am studying here, but I will probably come back to my house in Italy, because I am afraid of the coronavirus." (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) UNIDENTIFIED BRAZILIAN MAN, SAYING: "This is really worrying. I have friends that already have the virus; they live in the west, in Campo Grande. But, I'm certain that what the governor is doing the correct thing." PEOPLE WALKING ALONG SEASIDE AVENUE PERSON SWIMMING IN OCEAN SHIPS AT SEA VIEW OF RIO WITH SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN VIEW OF EMPTY COPACABANA BEACH
- Embargoed: 5th April 2020 15:50
- Keywords: Brazil Copacabana Rio de Janeiro beach coronavirus crowds empty people quarantine restrictions shelter
- Location: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- City: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001C64W01Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A regular weekend in Rio de Janeiro usually sees people soaking up the sun on the world-renowned Copacabana beach.
However, this Sunday (March 22) the long stretch of sand was almost entirely empty as people heeded orders to shelter inside in an effort to stop the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus.
Police urged tourists and locals to go home and blared out announcements in English, Spanish and Portuguese to reinforce the message.
Rio's famed beaches were closed this past week after the first two deaths in the state lead Governor Wilson Witzel to urge people to stay indoors and to avoid gyms and beaches.
With the state of Rio de Janeiro announcing its third death on Saturday (March 21), the total across Brazil is at least 18, up from 11 confirmed on Friday (March 20).
Health ministry figures on Friday showed 904 confirmed coronavirus cases in Brazil, with the tally expected to rise above 1,000 when the next set of official figures are released.
(Production: Sergio Queiroz, Patrick Alwine) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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