1:46 p.m. ET, April 16, 2021
Brazil's Sao Paulo state will reopen shops and restaurants
From Rodrigo Pedroso
Shops are seen on March 8 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images
The Brazilian state of Sao Paulo announced on Friday that it is entering a transitional phase from the current level of restrictive measures to a more relaxed phase, starting Sunday.
The easing of restrictive measures, put in place to control the Covid-19 spread in Brazil's most populous state, will allow the reopening of shops and religious celebrations.
The vice governor, Rodrigo Garcia, said during a news conference on Friday that restrictive measures will be relaxed further starting April 24, when restaurants, beauty salons and gyms will be allowed to reopen. Bars will remain closed.
According to Garcia, the decrease of Covid-19 patients with severe condition in public and private hospitals in Sao Paulo in April allows the easing of the restrictions.
On April 1, Sao Paulo state registered at least 13,074 Covid-19 patients in intensive care units, with a 92.3% occupancy rate. On April 15, there were about 11,756 Covid-19 patients and an ICU occupancy rate of 85.3%.
Daniel Soranz, Rio de Janeiro's health secretary, said at a news conference on Friday that authorities in the city will maintain the current level of restrictions, which include the closure of beaches and parks, but allow bars and restaurants to be open until 9 p.m. local time.
“We have 1,400 people hospitalized with Covid-19 in the city, (that's) a lot of people. We still have a high level of transmission and it is not possible to relax the restrictive measures,” said Soranz.