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In an indication the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage parts of Brazil,the governor ofSaoPaulo, Joao Doria, announced on Friday the extension of theCOVID-19quarantine in the statethrough the end of the month.
“As governor of SaoPaulo, I would like to give you different news, but the scenario is bleak. We will have to extend the quarantine until May 31,”he said at anews conference.
Aplan to gradually reopen storesand allow people to move about more freelywas announced onApril 22,provided there wasa drop inthe number of confirmed cases,large-scaletesting of people, social isolation andenoughbeds in the health system. None of the criteria, however, wasmet.
More than 10,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Brazil, most of them inSaoPaulo.On Friday,the governor declaredan official period ofmourning in the state inmemory of the victims.
Doria also spoke about the possibility ofextending thelockdown if measures continue to beignoredby the population.
Official government monitoring indicates the quarantine adherence rate wasfollowed by47% ofthepeople in the last three days, below the required minimum of 55%.
Nearly 90% of the intensive care unit bedsin the metropolitan area ofSaoPauloare already occupied.
“We do not rule out any other more restrictive measure. We are not proposing a lockdown, but it is not ruled out. We hope this does not have to be practiced, but it will depend a lot on the citizens response to thequarantine," Doria said.
The announcement wasmet withfrustrationfrommany businessleadersand industry sectors waiting for commercial activities to resume.
The quarantine extension iscontrary towhatBrazilianPresident Jair Bolsonaro has beenpushingsince thebeginningof the pandemic. The president met with business people this week to pressure the Supreme Court to end social isolation and resume economicactivities.
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