São Paulo and Rio reopen — and we should see impacts in no time. A pivotal Supreme Court trial for President Bolsonaro. And Petrobras’ plan to resume activities.
Beware of the reopening
Before ever really shutting down its economy to contain the coronavirus, Brazil is accelerating its reopening process, with its two largest cities set to resume business this week. Street commerce will begin operating again in São Paulo — with reduced hours and under several sanitary conditions — two weeks after Governor João Doria announced a “gradual reopening.” In Rio de Janeiro, authorities won an appeal and may authorize the return of inter-municipal travel and public transport.
Reopen: why so soon? Brazilians are fed up with social isolation, as millions simply cannot afford to stay home. Besides the country’s 40 million informal workers, 2.2 million people filed jobless claims since March — an all-time record.
- On Tuesday, the country registered the lowest isolation rate since quarantines were first implemented: just 38 percent.
Why it matters. Inland cities began reopening sooner — and are experiencing a surge in coronavirus infection and death rates. It is as if a second wave of the disease started before the first was even over.
Problems ahead. While...