Bars fill to capacity on first weekend free of Covid-19 restrictions in Brazil’s São Paulo

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Establishments crowded in one of the main bohemian points in São Paulo, Vila Madalena, in the capital’s west zone. Many people, mostly youths, walked between bars with no masks.

On the corner of Inácio Pereira da Rocha and Mourato Coelho streets, a crowd gathered from early Saturday night (21) until early Sunday morning (22).

Last Tuesday (17), the government decreed the end of restrictive measures on occupancy and opening hours for stores and services in the state of São Paulo, after approximately 1 year and 5 months of limitations imposed to tackle the coronavirus in Brazil’s wealthiest region.

The lifting of restrictions occurred before the majority of the state’s population could be vaccinated with the 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, which sparked criticism from experts.

Although the state government has ended restrictions on occupancy and closing times, the recommendation remains that crowds should be prevented through social distancing between people, and that masks should still be worn. According to governor João Doria (PSDB) the requirement should be maintained statewide until December 31, including in open spaces.

City Hall inspectors, many with their masks around their necks, many others with none, walked through Vila Madalena to restrict street vendors’ activities. When asked by reporters about the crowds and the number of people without masks, they said anonymously that it was not their job to repress or direct the public.

After 1 AM many bars were still open. On Wizard Street it was difficult to drive through certain points because the crowds, in addition to occupying the sidewalks also took over part of the street.

Downtown, the whole block of Peixoto Gomide street, between Augusta and Frei Caneca streets, was crowded, supplied by street vendors who moved around freely. Both illegal vendors and the public seldom wore masks.

The “party” went on until dawn. At 2:15 AM there were still many people walking around with no masks.

Although many bars apparently closed their doors at around 1 AM, the sale of drinks continued and, with it the crowds, mainly near Cesário Mota Júnior Street and Roosevelt Square.

The Doria administration reported that, for the first time in the pandemic, no municipality in the state reached full Covid-19 ICU occupancy .