Shocking Images Show Thousands in England Ignoring Social Distancing to Sunbathe

Extra police patrols were needed to break up the crowds.
by | June 30, 2020


Since the quarantine started three months ago, people have been itching to go back to their normal way of living. Countries around the world are slowly easing their quarantine policies to start ushering in the new normal but this does not mean the virus is gone. By lifting certain measures, it means the government trusts the people to take care of themselves and others around them. Unfortunately, humans aren’t so sensitive.

On Thursday, thousands of people in England flocked beaches to make the most out of what’s been recorded as the United Kingdom’s hottest day of the year. The shocking photos show miles of crowds across Bournemouth beach. Umbrellas are up and towels are laid on the sand for the eager sun-bathers who were wearing no masks.

There were people playing in the water, not a care in the world. The narrow roads were jammed by cars illegally parked creating a gridlock. It was chaos. Officials have declared the event a “major incident.”

“The irresponsible behavior and actions of so many people is just shocking and our services are stretched to the absolute hilt trying to keep everyone safe,” says council leader Vikki Slade in a statement. “We have had no choice now but to declare a major incident and initiate an emergency response.”

Extra police patrols were brought in to contain the chaos and send people packing but they had a particularly rough time with stubborn individuals. The rubbish crews reportedly faced “abuse and intimidation” while trying to remove waste bins across the beach. There have also been reported incidents of fights due to excessive alcohol consumption.

By morning the entire stretch of Bournemouth beach was littered with plastic. Some people were even caught illegally camping overnight.

Authorities are now telling people to stay away from the area and advising them to take the coronavirus health crisis seriously.

“Clearly we are still in a public health crisis and such a significant volume of people heading to one area places a further strain on emergency services resources,” says Dorset Police Assistant Chief Constable Sam de Reya.

As of June 26, the United Kingdom has recorded 307,980 coronavirus cases and 43,230 deaths, the highest in Europe.

 

READ MORE:
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Kyzia spends most of her time capturing the world around her through photos, paragraphs, and playlists. She is constantly on the hunt for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, and a great paperback thriller to pair with it.

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