Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies Passes Nationwide Mandatory Wearing of Masks

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Tuesday, the Chamber of Deputies passed a bill that requires the wearing of masks for individual protection throughout the country during the pandemic. The rule should be observed in public spaces, public transports, and private areas accessible to the public.

To become law, the bill still needs to be passed by the Senate and sanctioned by the President. Since the coronavirus outbreak reached the country, several municipalities and states have already passed laws on the matter.

According to the initial wording approved by the Chamber of Deputies, anyone detected breaking the rule could be fined up to R$300, or double the amount in case of recidivism, i. e. R$600. However, in the voting of amendments to the text, a passage was incorporated that obliges states and municipalities to edit rules for fines. Thus, each place will establish the penalty.

“We voted for the general rule, and the amount will respect the local reality. In a country the size of Brazil, we cannot establish the same amount as a fine from São Paulo to Acre. It would be disproportionate and would disadvantage the citizens. It will be up to the City Councils and Assemblies to define which parameters apply to their reality – says the author of the amendment,” Efraim Filho.

The proposal also records that states and municipalities may provide protection equipment to the vulnerable population. In locations where there is no distribution of masks, the fine will not be charged. The proposal also determines that the amount collected from the penalties should be used to fight the pandemic.

The text requires companies to distribute masks to their employees when working with the public. When buying masks for the population, public authorities will give priority to handcrafted products, by seamstresses or other local producers, according to the bill.

In the vote on amendments, the mandatory use of masks for prison workers and compliance with social and educational measures was also incorporated into the text. Also, it was emphasized in the bill’s wording that masks could either be “handmade or industrial.”

Earlier, the Chamber passed another bill, previously approved by the Senate, which regulates the donation of surplus food by supermarkets, restaurants, and other establishments.

As changes were introduced to the text in the Chamber, the bill returned to the Senate for another vote. The new wording states that food must meet health safety requirements, compliance with the expiration date, and maintenance of nutritional properties.

Source: O Globo