Coronavirus

São Paulo could impose new restrictions after Election Day

restrictions Luz railway station, in São Paulo. Photo: Will Rodrigues/Shutterstock
Luz railway station, in São Paulo. Photo: Will Rodrigues/Shutterstock

The number of coronavirus patients in intensive care has shot up 22 percent over the past two weeks in the state of São Paulo. In the Greater São Paulo Area alone, the rise is even more pronounced: 30 percent. The data has forced state authorities to consider imposing new restrictive measures in the areas where Covid-19 is making a comeback.

Governor João Doria has been criticized for delaying the reassessment of the state’s reopening plan on November 30 — that is, one day after the runoff municipal elections will be decided. Bruno Covas, Mr. Doria’s former deputy mayor of São Paulo, is gunning for re-election, and a decision to bring back stricter isolation measures would certainly be an unpopular one.

The state of São Paulo was meant to reassess its reopening plan in the middle of November, but Mr. Doria claimed that problems with government systems prevented reporting on infections and cases for five days, making an immediate reassessment unfeasible.


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