São Paulo City Hall Will Block Off Thoroughfares to Increase Isolation

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – São Paulo City Hall will have traffic blocks on avenues in the capital from next Monday, May 4th. Restrictions on the flow of vehicles are intended to help increase the rate of social isolation in the city, which is currently below 50 percent, according to the mayoralty. The ideal rate to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, according to health authorities, is between 60 and 70 percent.

According to the city hall, if the population’s compliance to isolation fails to increase from Monday, blockades on the city’s roads could be planned and enforced throughout the day in an attempt to increase restriction and discourage people from leaving home.

On the Labor Day holiday, May 1st, the capital city reached an isolation rate of 55 percent. However, since Wednesday, April 27th, isolation had not exceeded 48 percent. The highest level of isolation in the city was 59 percent and it occurred in only two days since the outbreak of the pandemic: on March 29th and April 5th.

Blockades

The blockades on Monday will take place from 7 AM to 9 AM on a number of avenues that typically have high traffic flow, preserving a free lane for vehicles to pass. The Traffic Engineering Company (CET) will monitor the roadblocks and guide traffic in the regions.

In addition to the CET, the action has the support of the Metropolitan Civil Guard (GCM) and the Traffic Police Command (CPTran). Educational traffic stops will occur at two other addresses, both in the city’s west zone, also between 7 AM and 9 AM.

To fight Covid-19, the city hall released the following recommendations:

► If possible, stay home. Social distancing is a prevention tool and should be respected;

► If you need to leave home, wear a mask;

► Avoid crowds or poorly ventilated spaces;

► Always cover your cough (not using your hands but rather your arms);

► Use disposable tissues and discard them after use;

► Wash your hands frequently with soap and water;

► Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;

► Do not share personal items.