Rio Mayor Drastically Raises Fines on Bars and Restaurants for Crowding

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rio de Janeiro currently records approximately 85 percent occupancy of the city’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds by patients with Covid-19. This occurs after the city closed approximately 100 beds over the past two weeks, in the hope that the number of cases and deaths caused by the disease would decrease.

On the matter, during a press conference on Friday afternoon, September 18th, Mayor Marcelo Crivella blamed the Rio de Janeiro population, using as an example the crowds on the city’s beaches and bars. To contain these events, he announced that the “golden rules” for distancing will be strictly enforced. From now on, violations will be classified as very serious, with fines ranging from R$15,000 to R$26,000 (US$3,000 – $5,100). Until now, infractions by establishments were classified as “serious” violations, with fines ranging from R$700 to R$2,700.

“Many Rio de Janeiro residents still expose themselves irresponsibly, failing to wear masks. Let’s keep the situation we are in now. We are not going to release anything considering that unfortunately the curves have not dropped as we had hoped. In two months, with the population’s awareness [of the importance of following the golden rules], we could be in a better situation,” Crivella said.

It should be noted that due to the decrease in the number of ICU beds for Covid-19, the transfer time from pre-hospital facilities to specialized hospitals for the treatment of the disease almost quadrupled, from an average of eight hours of waiting, recorded 14 days ago, to 23 hours now.

According to Crivella, the City is trying to reach an agreement with the Federal Government to reopen 95 ICU beds at the Ronaldo Gazzola Municipal Hospital, in Acari, in the North Zone of Rio. Each bed costs around R$4,000 per day, according to the mayor. The Municipal Government’s plan is to sign a 60-day contract, which would cost approximately R$24 million.