Coronavirus

Judge suspends Rio de Janeiro reopening

A Rio de Janeiro court has suspended decrees signed by Governor Wilson Witzel and Mayor Marcelo Crivella authorizing the reopening of stores and lifting restrictions on public transport. The judge considered the relaxation of rules an “inadequate” move which could “cause an acceleration of Covid-19 contagion difficult to reverse.”

The judge also ordered that state authorities must coordinate with municipalities to “effectively enforce social isolation rules by way of law enforcement.” A hearing was scheduled for June 10, in which both the governor’s and the mayor’s office must present “due justification” for their decisions.

Last week, Mr. Witzel authorized shopping malls, bars, and restaurants to reopen — and greenlit outdoor sports activities and inter-municipal transport from Saturday onward. Meanwhile, Rio’s City Hall authorized sports activities in training centers and promenades, as well as churches, furniture stores, and car dealerships.

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Gustavo Ribeiro

An award-winning journalist, Gustavo has extensive experience covering Brazilian politics and international affairs. He has been featured across Brazilian and French media outlets and founded The Brazilian Report in 2017. He holds a master’s degree in Political Science and Latin American studies from Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris.

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