São Paulo to drop mask requirements on December 11

In two and a half weeks, residents in the state of São Paulo will no longer be required to wear masks in outdoor spaces. Governor João Doria attributes the move to the state’s declining figures for new Covid cases and deaths, although an original forecast had the lifting of mask requirements for December 5.

Brazil’s most-populated state has already vaccinated 81 percent of its 46.6 million population — with 74 percent fully immunized. The state follows a trend set by other parts of Brazil, such as the city of Rio de Janeiro, where masks have no longer been mandatory in open places since mid-October.

“But the use of masks will continue to be mandatory in indoor areas and on public transportation,” said Mr. Doria, during a press conference on Wednesday.

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