Brazil beaches, bars packed as virus cases climb

Brazilians crowded beaches and bars this weekend, taking advantage of a long holiday weekend to spoil in normal life, even as infection numbers continue to climb in the country. Authorities in Rio De Janeiro and São Paulo have recently eased restrictions, opening beaches and allowing for restaurants and bars to offer reduced service, bowing to public pressure to allow some form of normal life to return after months of pandemic driven shutdown of services.

São Paulo's Governor warned the emergency is not over however, appealing to young people, who he says are driving infection numbers up, to be responsible and abide by social distancing rules and mask wearing. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has encouraged citizens to ignore restrictions and live their lives normally, even though the country has the second highest numbers of infected people in the world, with 3.9 million infected to date and 121,000 deaths, according to the Brazilian Health Ministry.