Covid-19: Rio Could Face Stricter Isolation Measures; No Lockdown Yet

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Friday morning, March 1st, during the inauguration ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro City Field Hospital in Riocentro, in Barra da Tijuca, West Zone of the city, Mayor Marcelo Crivella announced that he was considering the option of toughening social isolation measures in the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro.

According to Crivella, there would be a meeting on Friday afternoon to discuss the spread of the pandemic in the municipality. The Mayor and a scientific council, comprised of hospital directors, university professors, and members of the National Academy of Medicine, will take part in the meeting.

“I believe that maybe we can harden some measures, like fining companies that serve people without masks. It’s perhaps a measure that will come into effect,” said the Mayor.

When asked if a “lockdown” system, which involves the complete blocking of access to the city, could actually be implemented in Rio, Crivella said he hoped that such a drastic measure would not be required.

“I’d rather not think about it. I would rather make sure that our measures will flatten the curves, our beds will provide great security and soon we will return to our activities”, emphasized the Mayor.

Crivella also seized the opportunity to urge the whole population of Rio to commit to halting the spread of Covid-19 in the municipality.

“We, once again, appeal to the population. Our numbers are not growing at a very high rate, but they continue to grow. We need to lower these curves, to have our beds in reserve in order to go back to work,” he concluded.

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