Industries return to work in Rio Grande do Sul despite social isolation

Industries have resumed operations in Brazil’s southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, despite the fact that social isolation measures are still in place. Major companies, such as auto parts makers Randon and Marcopolo, and cookware and cutlery maker Tramontina have partially reinitiated operations, after having sent employees on collective holidays on March 23.

Per Agência Estado, 5,800 of Tramontina’s 8,500 employees had returned to work, while Randon and Marcopolo resumed operations with 25 percent of their workforce, complying with a municipal decree from the city of Caxias do Sul. According to the report, Marcopolo and Randon are adopting the expertise acquired in their plants in China to help the transition, by increasing the cleaning of common space installations and measuring workers’ temperature. 

On April 13, governor Eduardo Leite said he is waiting for the results of a study conducted in partnership with universities to announce whether quarantine measures will continue beyond April 15. 

Between April 11 and 13, 4,500 Covid-19 quick tests were applied at random in the entire state, in an attempt to more accurately measure the spread of the virus. While the first batch of results is expected for April 15, the government is aiming to apply 18,000 tests. 

According to data provided by the Ministry of Health, Rio Grande do Sul had 664 cases of Covid-19 and 16 deaths as of April 13.

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