São Paulo Bars, Restaurants Allowed Open for Six Daylight Hours, Must Close 5PM

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The São Paulo City Hall had agreed with the bar and restaurant sectors that the partial opening hours in the city, for as long as the pandemic persisted, would be until 10 PM, but the schedule required adjusting to comply with the rules determined by the state governor, João Doria.

The health safety protocols allowing these establishments to operate, as well as beauty salons and barbershops, starting on Monday, July 6th, were signed on Saturday morning, July 4th.

The protocol signing ceremony by Mayor Bruno Covas was broadcast on the Internet, but there was no room for journalists to ask questions. City Assembly President Eduardo Tuma, the first to speak, stressed that restaurants that operate exclusively at night, such as pizzerias and Japanese restaurants, will have to remain closed as a result of the state government’s resolution.

“I hereby publicly appeal to the state government, which has limited operation to 5 PM. It doesn’t seem logical from a health perspective and even more so from an economic perspective,” Tuma said. He also argued that a broader working schedule would prevent crowds.

Covas did not address the issue raised by his ally, and chose instead to stress that the release of these business sectors does not imply that the focus on the spread of the coronavirus can be reduced. “Despite this flexibilization, the pandemic is not over,” he said.

“Of course we are better off than a few weeks ago, when we reached 92 percent ICU bed occupancy,” said the Mayor, presenting a report of the evolution of the disease and the actions taken by his administration so far. With fewer new cases and more beds, the ICU occupancy rate on Friday stood at 62 percent.

The protocol with bars and restaurants is a nine-page document requiring that establishments be disinfected before reopening and that employees with symptoms of the disease be tested for coronavirus with the RT-PCR type, which is considered the safest. But it allows for the presence of staff over 60 years of age, a risk group, in public attendance.

The maximum occupancy should be 40 percent of the establishment’s capacity at the time. Should the city evolve to the green phase of the reopening plan, the limit could be increased to 60 percent.

Tables should be at least two meters apart from each other, and chairs one meter away. There will be a limit of six people per table. Events or activities that create crowds remain banned. In the case of pay-by-weight restaurants, attendants must handle the food and serve the customers. The use of sidewalks is also restricted, and serving standing customers is banned.

Below are the principal rules for the operation of bars, restaurants and beauty salons:

Operation for six hours a day, until 5 PM;
Maximum occupancy of 40 percent;
Mandatory wearing of masks by customers and employees;
Adoption of hygiene protocols;

Source: O Estado de S. Paulo