First and foremost: to prevent infections, the use of a mask is mandatory.

 

By Benjamin Anson / The Santiago Times Staff

SANTIAGO – Chile’s Minister of National Assets, Julio Isamit, together with the Undersecretary of Public Health, Paula Daza and the Mayor of Valparaíso, Jorge Martínez, last week presented the protocol and recommendation guides for the use of public beaches amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In Chile there are no private beaches – all beaches are public, therefore our job is to ensure that families and individuals can reach their closest beaches throughout Chile. However, this access must also take place in a safe manner, especially within the contexts that we are experiencing in the pandemic. This is why we have established a set of mandatory measures and recommendations so that we can all reach the beaches and be calm,” stated Minister Isamit.

The Undersecretary of Public Health, Paula Daza, said that “the use of masks, the one meter distancing between people – five meters between one group and another group, and also the appliance of alcohol gel on the hands, is essential to reduce the possibility of contagions this summer – so that all Chileans can enjoy the beach, which is a beautiful place.”

In this regard, the regional mayor Jorge Martínez pointed out: “We want to invite you yet with precautions and conditions. We are prepared, and we are preparing ourselves for the public and health authorities that will control this whole process so that they (members of the public) can visit our region, by coming to rest and relax after months of confinement.”

Self-care advice to beach goers

• Individuals who go to the country’s beaches can be without a mask only when they are not moving and are two meters or more away from other people.
• Maintain a physical distance of at least one meter within the group of individuals with whom you are spending time and then one of at least 5 meters with other unknown groups.
• As for individual or group sports – if objects are used – they must be disinfected before and after use.
• It is recommended the avoidance of sharing beach items, especially in the case of children. It is also suggested to buy solely within well-established places and also to avoid eating food inside the spas.

Recommendations for those who manage beaches

• To avoid contagion, it is recommended to keep the large spaces closed where crowds can gather and to store away all equipment such as children’s games, exercise machines and others that involve direct physical contact.
• On the other hand, it is suggested the manufacturing of visible health signs which promote physical distance, as well as frequently cleaning surfaces for public use and assigning teams to monitor compliance with the measures amongst visitors.

Chile, a population of over 19 million, recorded 1,014 new cases and 17 new deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the latest official data. The South American country has so far reported a total of 514,202 cases and 14,319 COVID-19 related deaths, while as many as 490,820 have recovered from the illness.