Rio Mayoralty Submits Plans to Reopen City Gradually, Starting June 1st

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Commercial activities in Rio de Janeiro are close to officially resuming. This is at least the intention of the city’s Mayor, Marcelo Crivella, who has elaborate plans to reopen trade and is ready to present them to the scientific community.

As an argument for the resumption, the City will use a letter signed by the Rio de Janeiro Hotel Association (ABIH-RJ) and seven other corporate organizations and residents’ associations in the region of Barra da Tijuca, in the West Zone, planning to reopen between June 1st and 29th, while limiting access to bars, restaurants, museums, and transports, among other things.

The document, which will be analyzed by Governor Wilson Witzel, also calls on the Rio de Janeiro Prosecutor’s Office (MPRJ) to join in the talks.

Below is Rio’s detailed plan for the gradual reopening of trade in the city:

From June 1st:

• Reopening of high schools (with mandatory use of masks), from 10 AM to 5 PM, of daycare centers and social facilities;
• Reopening (after 10 AM) of stores up to 400m² in size, with an open door to the street;
• Reopening of cafes, bars, and restaurants, which are limited to 50 percent of capacity (until 11 PM);
• Reopening of museums, monuments, art galleries, and the like.

From June 8th:

• Resumption of religious services;
• Return of the soccer matches, but with no audience in stadiums.

From June 15th:

• Reopening of stores with an area of over 400m² or located inside shopping malls, with mandatory use of masks;
• Reopening of day-care centers, pre-schools, and the like.

As of June 29th:

• Reopening of cinemas, theaters, and concert halls with reduced capacity and minimum distance space.

Suggestions to reduce virus infection:

• Users of taxis and app services will only be able to travel in the back seat of vehicles;
• Mandatory confinement of patients, people with comorbidities and the elderly;
• Mandatory use of masks in public transportation, offices, and schools (except for children under six);
• Regular body temperature readings of employees in companies;
• Limitation to 2/3 of collective transportation capacity;
• Outdoor sports are allowed (no beach or swimming pool attendance for the time being).

Shopping malls:

• Sanitizer gel dispensers and drinking fountain deactivation;
• Minimum distances between tables and chairs in bars and restaurants;
• Promotional events that lead to crowds are forbidden for the time being;
• Part of the parking lots as spaces for vaccination campaigns and other health care activities.