Mayors of São Paulo coastal cities announce lockdown starting next week

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After meeting by videoconference this Friday afternoon, March 19th, the mayors of nine cities in the Baixada Santista (São Paulo coastal) region – Santos, Bertioga, Cubatão, Guarujá, Itanhaém, Mongaguá, Peruíbe, Praia Grande, and São Vicente – have announced more restrictive measures to try to contain the advance of the coronavirus in the region.

The lockdown begins to take effect as of Tuesday, the 23rd, when each city must publish a decree with the rules in force. The measures will last until April 4th.

The circulation of people and vehicles will be allowed for the purchase of medicines, medical care or assistance to people or animals, loading and unloading at bus terminals, emergency care and unpostponable needs, as well as the provision of services permitted by municipal decree.

The circulation of people and cars will be allowed with the presentation of documents such as purchase invoices or medical prescriptions for medication, a certificate of attendance at a health clinic, a work card (or pay stub) or a document that proves the provision of services authorized in the decree, a ticket or image of the bus ticket, or proof of urgency or pressing needs by any means.

Municipal public transportation will work only during certain hours in the morning and in the afternoon to serve the workers who need to travel. Each municipality will determine its own schedule. The metropolitan transport, which connects the cities, including ferry crossings, will function normally, because they are the responsibility of the state government. Cabs or application cars are allowed to work normally.

Supermarkets, mini-markets, bakeries, and hygiene stores will be open until 8 pm and will only be able to sell food and hygiene products. The sale of clothing and electrical appliances is prohibited.

In addition, markets and mini-markets will not be allowed to operate on weekends and holidays. Businesses with home delivery activities can work with closed doors and only 30% of their employees until 10 pm.

At bank branches, only self-service will be allowed, with no internal services (except those related to security and maintenance). The lines at the tellers must be 3 meters apart. Street markets, pensions, non-essential public or private construction work, and the sale of seasonal properties are prohibited.

Establishments such as pharmacies, gas stations (with closed convenience stores), freight transport services, commerce of medical and hospital supplies, delivery of medicines, and individual transport services (cab and app vehicles) may operate 24 hours per day.

Also on this list are private security and concierge activities, wholesale and retail horticultural products, port and retroport activities (administrative services will have to be done by home office), and industrial activities whose downtime could affect the supply and essential services.

On Friday, Baixada Santista registered 496 new cases of covid-19 and 23 deaths from the disease. In addition, the region totals 108,864 cases of coronavirus and 3,522 deaths since the pandemic began.

Operation Descent on Anchieta-Imigrantes will be suspended

The “Descida” Operation on the Anchieta-Imigrantes System (SAI), which used reverse traffic lanes mornings to facilitate access to the beach towns, will be suspended for two weekends, starting this Friday, in order to curb the arrival of tourists to Baixada Santista. The measure meets the request of the Development Council of the Baixada Santista (Condesb).

This is the first time in the 23 years that the SAI concession has been in effect. The suspension is among the restrictive measures adopted during the emergency phase of the SP Plan.

The Santos City Hall will restrict people’s access to the gardens and the beachfront promenade, starting at midnight this Saturday, the 20th. Since the 13th, the entire extension of the beachfront sand strip has been closed. The use of public parks has also been prohibited since the 15th.

The control of the restricted access to the garden and the boardwalk will be done by the Municipal Civil Guard (GCM). The GCM guides the citizens about the prohibition to use these spaces. In case of non-compliance, the offender may be sent to the police district.

Article 268 of the Penal Code establishes as a crime the act of violating the government’s determination to prevent the introduction or spread of contagious diseases. This crime is punishable by a fine (established by the courts) and detention from one month to one year.

Source: Estadão Conteudo