Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro defers new relaxation stage due to Delta variant spread

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Because of the spread of the Delta variant in the city, Rio de Janeiro’s city government has decided to defer the next phase of relaxation of restrictive measures against Covid-19, that had been scheduled for early next month, Health Secretary Daniel Soranz said Tuesday, August 10.

The Delta variant has been spreading more rapidly in Rio de Janeiro than elsewhere, accounting for 37.2% of cases last month in the state. Still, unlike in other countries, the Delta is not yet the dominant variant, still behind the P.1 that originated in Manaus and accounts for 56.4% of cases in the state.

Nationally, the Delta variant accounted for 21.8% of cases in July, compared to 62.5% for the P.1.

The scientific committee monitoring the pandemic and supporting Rio’s City Hall recommended a more cautious resumption given the spread of the strain of Indian origin.

The new phase was scheduled to begin on September 4, but after the committee’s advice, it is now likely to occur only after the end of winter, in late September, Health Secretary Daniel Soranz said. “We need to step up vaccination to resume some activities,” he added.

The committee recommended that the reopening of activities with public presence should only occur when half of Rio’s population has completed their vaccination cycle. The City Hall had previously planned to reopen once 45% of the population had been vaccinated.

“We were going to start opening with 45% and now with 50%, and in order to open we need to see a sharp drop in cases and deaths, as well as other requirements,” the secretary said.

According to City Hall, 37% of adults in the city of Rio have been vaccinated with both doses or with the single-dose vaccine.

Despite the Delta spread and the adjustment in the resumption plan, festivities such as New Year’s Eve and Carnival are guaranteed, but they will depend on the health scenario, the City Hall said. The two traditional celebrations were not held this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.