Brazil Rio de Janeiro: Mayor plans to end mask use in open spaces on October 15

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes on Monday, October 4, announced that the use of masks will no longer be compulsory in open spaces as of October 15, and that exactly one month thereafter, the personal protective item will only be required in hospitals and public transportation.

To this end, 65 and 75% of the population respectively need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 with the two doses or the single dose, according to the guidelines defined by the Scientific Committee of Rio’s Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS-Rio).

The Rio Covid-19 Panel data show that 56.5% of the capital’s total population has now completed its vaccination schedule. As for people over 18 years of age, the rate stands at 72.2%. Moreover, there are no people waiting for beds in the public hospital system.

On Twitter, Paes published a photo of the minutes of a meeting held with the committee on August 9, when phases were defined for the reopening in the city.

The document indicates that, in the second phase (scheduled for October 15), nightclubs and concert venues would be authorized with 50% of the audience fully vaccinated, in addition to allowing events with up to 1,000 people in open spaces, twice the current capacity. For the third stage, on November 15, the free circulation of people is also expected, without the need for social distancing.

The city of Rio is currently in the first stage, with 50% attendance in soccer stadiums, mandatory mask use and vaccine passport requirement.

Mayor Eduardo Paes and Municipal Health Secretary Daniel Soranz announced a three-stage flexibility plan on July 29, including a celebration called “Dia do Reencontro” (Reunion Day), with people on the streets in cultural festivities along the waterfront.

The prerequisites to start this plan were vaccination rates and the epidemiological scenario in the municipality. However, with the spread of the Delta variant, considered the most transmissible in circulation worldwide, the city government decided to postpone it.

In the tweet, Paes reported that all information regarding the measures to fight the pandemic are supported by the committee’s experts. “My comments are always based on what the Scientific Committee decides. Either you follow science or you don’t! I do,” the Mayor wrote.