RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Friday, April 16th, the São Paulo government announced the beginning of a new phase of the São Paulo Plan. Called the transition phase, it consists in the gradual reopening of activities that were banned under the red phase, such as commerce and services.
This phase will run for 15 days. As of Sunday, April 18th, businesses and religious activities may start operating again with reduced hours and capacity. Starting Saturday, April 24th, restaurants, beauty salons and gyms will be allowed to open, subject to the same rules.
The opening hours of commercial activities such as street stores and shopping malls are only authorized from 11 AM to 7 PM, as well as restaurants and beauty salons. Gyms may open from 7 AM to 11 AM and from 3 PM to 7 PM.
The allowed maximum occupancy capacity in all these venues is 25%. The curfew from 8 PM to 5 AM remains in effect in this new phase.
The rules were changed after an improvement in the pandemic rates in the state, such as a drop in hospitalizations. By Friday, 2,722,077 cases and 87,326 deaths have been confirmed in the state of São Paulo.
Currently, the occupancy rate in intensive care units stands 85.3% in the state in general, and at 83.3% in greater São Paulo. Early this month, on April 1st, the occupancy rate in the state stood at 92.3%.
Source: Veja