Rio de Janeiro Mayoralty Confirms City’s Plan for Reopening in Stages

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Despite the decree released on Friday evening, June 5th, by the governor of the state of Rio, Wilson Witzel, authorizing the reopening of bars, restaurants and shopping malls, in addition to the return of soccer matches, Rio’s City Hall announced that the city is following the plan in stages, and that “municipalities have the autonomy to regulate the restrictive measures, according to the reality of each one.”

In a statement, the city government said it continues to assess the contamination curves by Covid-19 daily with the Scientific Committee, “making it clear that it can even step back if the curves rise, but expecting them to drop and to continue flexibility while following all the so-called golden rules of precautions”.

At the start of the month, the City announced that the end of restrictions in Rio would occur in six stages, with an interval of 15 days between each, with the total opening planned for August. First, the sectors with high economic impact and low risk of contamination will be opened.

On the other hand, the Witzel government authorized the operation of commercial and industrial sectors, at specific times and with reduced occupancy capacity, and extended, until June 21st, the ban on classroom opening by educational systems.

Gyms, cinemas, and theaters remain closed. The governor also authorized visits to tourist sites Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf Mountain, respecting the limit of 50 percent capacity. Religious institutions can operate as long as a distance of one meter between people is observed.

The government warned that, in case of noncompliance with the planned measures, the public security forces could act in potential administrative infractions and pre-established crimes. In his decision, he considered the reduction of deaths in the state and the lower number of hospitalizations for respiratory disorders.