We can leave the house now to exercise and walk around in nature as long as we’re back inside by curfew, but there are still some areas, like beaches, that remain out of bounds, even under advanced alert level 3.

Is that what it’s still called, or are we are on advanced super alert level 3 yet? It’s hard to keep track.

The same safety precautions still apply, even when you’re wandering around in the great outdoors – wear a mask and keep your distance from others.

The closed beaches have been a point of contention throughout the lockdown. Back in May, surfers protested about beaches still being closed under alert level 4, using the hashtag #backinthewater.

In Muizenberg, it led to some pretty comical scenes, with one protester fleeing the police on his bike, as they gave chase.

Then it led to some comical memes, as things often do when circumstances seem silly.

There are two sides to this.

On the one hand, surfing and going for a walk on the beach isn’t likely to put you in any more contact with fellow walkers or surfers than walking around your neighbourhood. On the other hand, when beaches fill up, they really fill up, making physical distancing difficult.

Overall, SAPS and other law enforcement has had to learn to run on sand, because people seem reluctant to stay away.

The Citizen published a video that has been doing the rounds on Twitter showing Umdloti Beach, north of Durban, packed with beachgoers on August 2.

Then law enforcement showed up:

Durbanites running from SAPS today 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/gyPTK8RsvL

— ThatMomOutThere (@thusthus12) August 2, 2020

The eThekwini Municipality has urged people to stay away from the beaches, especially in light of the fact that eThekwini is a hotspot in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

“The beaches remain closed and the public must be mindful of the fact that they have to comply with regulations for their safety and not for government,” eThekwini municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Masiyela said on Monday.

“It must not be perceived or viewed by the public that this is an attempt by government or the City to frustrate them. I think everybody is fully aware of the havoc of Covid-19,” Masiyela said of the incident.

Masiyela further noted that it would take cooperation between government and Durbanites to flatten the curve, and didn’t say whether anyone had been arrested.

They sure did run, though.

[source:citizen]