Coronavirus: City Hall Decree Permits Temporarily Restricting Entering or Leaving Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Mayor of Rio, Marcelo Crivella, published on Friday, March 13th, a decree regulating the fight against the coronavirus in the city.

The measure allows the “exceptional and temporary restriction of entering and leaving the city”, through highways, ports or airports.

According to the text, all would be subject to specific advice from the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA).

Next week, as of March 16th (Monday), the City will suspend classes in the municipal school system.

The decree also provides for compulsory vaccination, medical examinations and other forms of health tests. The rule does not detail how this would occur.

The decree also authorizes the authorities to carry out the following measures: isolation; quarantine; clinical sampling (compulsorily); epidemiological study (compulsorily); exhumation, necropsy, cremation and handling of bodies; and suspension of activities in the public sector.

The rule further provides for the waiver of bids for goods, services and supplies used to fight the disease as long as there is an emergency.

The importation of medical products that are not registered with ANVISA will also be allowed, as long as they are endorsed by foreign authorities or the Brazilian Ministry of Health.