Rio State Will Not Comply With New Federal Guidelines on Essential Services

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The State Government of Rio de Janeiro announced on Tuesday morning, May 12th, that it will not be considering beauty salons, barbershops, and gyms as essential services. The announcement was confirmed by Governor Wilson Witzel’s staff.

Yesterday morning, the governor commented on a social network. “There is no indication that the restrictive measures will be relaxed. Encouraging entrepreneurs to reopen establishments is irresponsible. Even more so if a customer were to become infected with the virus. Bolsonaro is heading towards the cliff and wants to take us all with him,” Witzel said.

The governor said he is also working to ensure that field hospitals are fully operational.

“I’ve been holding daily meetings so that all the field hospitals are opened. We’ve already reduced the wait list for beds by 30 percent and we’re expecting by next week to accomodate everyone who needs the state,” Wilson Witzel said.

Last Monday, May 11th, President Jair Bolsonaro listed beauty salons, barbershops, and sports clubs as “essential services”. This means that, according to the federal government, these services can be maintained open even during the Covid-19 pandemic. With this addition, the number of activities considered essential is currently 57.

Decree Surprised Health Minister

The presidential measure surprised the Minister of Health, Nelson Teich, who was briefed on the subject while granting a press conference.

“What I think today is this: if you build a flow that prevents people from getting infected, and if you build conditions and pre-requisites so that you don’t expose people to the risk of contamination, you can work towards something. Now, addressing that as essential is an initial step, which was a decision of the President, he decided that. Did that come out today? Whose decision?” Teich said.

And he added:

“The decision on essential activities is defined by the Ministry of Economics. And what I really believe is that any decision that involves defining whether or not something is essential, it must involve your ability to do it in a way that protects people. Just to make it clear that this is a Ministry of Economics decision. It’s not ours,” said the Minister.

Source: G1