Brazil: São Paulo imposes curfew and suspends football to contain Covid-19
A shopping street in São Paulo on March 6, 2021, after the decision by local authorities to close all non-essential businesses.
These restrictions have been extended to the entire state of São Paulo from March 15, 2021. AFP - MIGUEL SCHINCARIOL
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
In an attempt to curb contagion in Brazil, the state of São Paulo, the largest and richest Brazil, has instituted a curfew and a series of additional restrictions that come into force on Monday, March 15, for 15 days.
Shops, bars, restaurants, schools and places of worship are closed, and the football championship suspended: so many measures that divide the inhabitants.
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The State of São Paulo, with its 46 million inhabitants, lives in the hour of restrictions: shops, bars, restaurants, schools and places of worship closed, football championship suspended.
So many measures to face the
"
most critical moment
" of the pandemic
, the local government announced Thursday, March 11.
A curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. will also remain in effect until March 30, in this state which is the economic heart of the country.
Last week, Governor João Doria had already put his state back into "
red phase
", tolerating only "
essential activities
", related to health, food or public transport.
The best hospital system in Brazil ... at 100% occupancy
Now, the São Paulo hospital structure, the best in the country, is starting to crumble under demand, and
the number of victims continues to increase
,
reports our correspondent in São Paulo,
Martin Bernard
.
“
The pandemic is spreading much faster and the capacity of our hospitals is starting to be compromised.
Some are already saturated
, with 100
% occupancy of beds
”in intensive care, revealed at a press conference Jean Gorinchteyn, Secretary of Health of the State of São Paulo.
The average occupancy of these units in hospitals is 87.6%, he said.
► Also to listen: Armelle Enders: "Jair Bolsonaro is in total denial of the reality of the seriousness of the pandemic"
Iara is in favor of these restrictions: “
I think it should have been done a long time ago.
The big problem here in Brazil is that not all business restriction and closure measures are taken seriously, and
there are no controls
.
For me, there is no doubt that
the government's discourse
is responsible for the worsening health situation
, ”explains this 50-year-old English teacher.
However, part of the population rejects these restrictions imposed by this state.
"
I find that it is not good
", sums up a Brazilian met in front of the Sports Bar.
“
No, they shouldn't close the shops,
” his wife continues.
"
Look, here I take my beer
," resumes the first.
I have worked non-stop since the start of the pandemic.
So to work, it's possible, but to have a beer with my wife, while staying away from others, it's not possible
?
"
Pro-Bolsonaro march against restrictions, call for military putsch
This region is the most bereaved of Brazil, with 62,570 deaths due to Covid-19, even if the number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants is lower than in the neighboring state of Rio de Janeiro: 136 per 100,000, against 196 for Rio.
Governor Doria has been advocating restrictive measures since the start of the pandemic, which has earned him numerous passes with President
Jair Bolsonaro, opposed to any closure
of economic activities in the name of preserving jobs.
Pro-Bolsonaro
demonstrators
gathered on Sunday March 14 to protest against the restrictions and demand the establishment of a military regime.
►Also read
: "Stop whining": President Bolsonaro castigates local measures against the Covid
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