Runners and swimmers rediscovered the sea air Wednesday as France opened a selection of Atlantic coast beaches closed during the coronavirus lockdown, while the Lourdes …
Runners and swimmers rediscovered the sea air Wednesday as France opened a selection of Atlantic coast beaches closed during the coronavirus lockdown, while the Lourdes sanctuary prepared to welcome back Catholic pilgrims this weekend.
But the cautious relaxation of restrictions stipulated that while beach-goers can swim or go fishing, no sunbathing is allowed.
The Catholic shrine at Lourdes, meanwhile, will allow only a limited number of visitors and keep some areas off-limits.
Local officials have reopened a number of beaches on the west of France, banning any “static presence — seated or lying down”, including picnicking.
Walkers, swimmers, individual watersports practitioners and anglers are welcome, provided they respect the social-distancing rule of one metre (3.3 feet) between individuals, said a tweet from the Loire-Atlantique department.
People have been reminded to respect the social distancing rules already in force while on the beach
Loic VENANCE, AFP
Other beaches remain off-limits, however, including Deauville in Normandy, a favourite with Parisians, for whom it is a 2.
