RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The São Paulo state government decided to revert the quarantine restrictions from Emergency to Phase Red as of Monday, March 12th, valid until April 18th. In practice, little will change.
The biggest impact is the return of in-person classes, at 35% capacity. The São Paulo Championship soccer games, suspended since March 15th when the emergency phase went into effect, are now permitted, but without fans in the stadium.
The rest of the activities considered non-essential, such as shopping malls and street trade, are authorized for drive-thru and delivery systems. The red phase also allows on-site pickup, banned during the emergency phase. The same rules apply to restaurants and bars. Bakeries can operate under the same model as supermarkets.
Parks and beaches remain closed, as do religious services, which remain prohibited. Remote work is mandatory for all administrative activities. Construction material stores, which were closed, may reopen.
The rules are valid for the entire state, but the city halls can change some rules. In the São Paulo capital, Mayor Bruno Covas (PSDB) has said that he will permit classroom activities in schools during the red phase.
The slight drop in the rate of ICU bed occupancy, which stood at 88% on Thursday, April 9, prompted the state to change the quarantine after almost a month above 90%. Despite this, São Paulo’s state set a new record for Covid-19 deaths in 24 hours, with 1,299. It was the second record in a week.
“We have had over these last few weeks important advances in the containment of the pandemic—the measures of social distancing and isolation, with support from the population. If we compare the last weeks, we had a drop in the daily average of new hospitalizations of 17%. This is what allows us to take steps”, explained the vice-governor, Rodrigo Garcia, in a press conference this Friday, 9.
Red phase rules
Only essential activities may operate, such as supermarkets, butcher shops, bakeries, street markets, pharmacies, gas stations, and pet shops.
Stores and shopping malls: sales are allowed through on-site pickup (take-out) drive-thru from 5 AM to 8 PM and delivery at the buyer’s home 24 hours per day. The same rules are in effect for restaurants and bars.
Beauty salons and gyms must remain closed. Bakeries may operate according to supermarket rules, but on-site consumption is prohibited.
Remote work for administrative services is mandatory.
Parks and beaches are closed.
Sale of alcoholic beverages is only allowed between 6 AM and 8 PM.
Any crowding is prohibited.
Curfew is set from 8 PM to 5 AM.
Churches and religious temples are closed.
Source: Exame