The beaches of Póvoa de Varzim, district of Porto, are experiencing a gradual increase in frequency, but still not all bathers, especially the younger ones, are adapted to the rules of social distance.
Today, despite the traditional north wind removing some of the pleasantness of a day at the beach, the Lusa agency found that several groups of people enjoyed the sands, but also the esplanades of the bars and the sidewalks of the city’s marginal, in a frequency that the inhabitants and local traders consider it to be increasing.
“We feel that people want to leave the house after so long, and even though it is a windy day, the weekends in Póvoa always have a lot of people on the waterfront, not only locals, but also visitors from neighboring municipalities in the interior” , explained to António Lusa, António Augusto, a beach dealer and owner of a bar.
The entrepreneur guarantees that in his establishment, where entrance with a mask is mandatory, “investments were made in hygiene products so that customers feel safer”, but believes that only with “good sense” will it be possible to comply with the rules.
“We have disinfectant gel in every bar and we reinforce hygiene, particularly in bathrooms, but it is the customers who have to understand this effort that we have made and comply with the standards. Only in this way can we continue to serve and maintain the business ”, added António Augusto.
In general, the measures imposed have been followed by the population, but there are those who note that there is still some fear in the resumption of traditional summer activities in Póvoa de Varzim.
“During the week I still see few people on the beach, but on Saturdays and Sundays there is already a gradual increase, especially with people from outside the city. I see that there are still fears, but I think that will pass when the heat rises ”, shared Alberto Castro, a native of Póvoa de Varzim, and a frequent user of the beach.
The poveiro explained that, on weekends, “the marginal is cut off from traffic and the municipal police make frequent rounds and leave warnings”, considering that this “has helped raise awareness”.
“There has been some care from people to keep their distance on the beach and I have seen the authorities intervene in some cases, but I think that when summer comes it will be much more difficult to control”, explained Alberto Castro.
The same opinion was shared by Alexandre Galiza, a lifeguard, who today had the first day of beach surveillance this year, within the scope of the “AquaVida” project, promoted by the Os Delfins association, with the municipalities of Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde.
“Most people have followed the rules, but I am concerned with young people. They have come together in large groups, and without great care in wearing a mask or distancing themselves ”, shared the lifeguard.
Alexandre Galiza recalled that “the great mission of lifeguards is the safety of people in relation to the sea” and, even admitting that “there is a collaboration with maritime authorities to prevent gatherings”, he considered that “this will be difficult to control”.
“I notice that people were anxious to return abroad and will be leaving more and more. Personally, I think it is a mistake for the bathing season to start so late, because we will have another month in which the beaches will have a lot of people, but without the supervision, surveillance and even cleaning, which normally exist in this period ”, shared the lifeguard.
The bathing season in Póvoa de Varzim will only start on June 27th, when it usually started on June 15th, and the local City Council is already preparing with the authorities, concessionaires and businessmen, several rules to be applied.
The city’s waterfront and all the car parks along the beaches are, for the time being, closed to reduce the car load.
Soon, gel dispensers will be placed at the entrance to the beaches, and disinfection of the streets will be reinforced. Measures will also be taken to promote the full use of the entire length of the beach, in order to expand the distance between beach users.
Portugal accounts for 1,302 deaths associated with covid-19 in 30,471 confirmed cases of infection, according to the latest daily bulletin from the Directorate-General for Health on the pandemic.
To date, 155 cases of people infected with covid-19 have been recorded in Póvoa de Varzim.
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