Coronavirus

Without lockdown, Brazilian cities pass prohibition laws

Reluctant to enact full lockdowns, local administrations have issued alcohol bans instead, as a means of keeping people at home

lockdown prohibition laws

On Sunday, Brazil recorded more new coronavirus deaths than any other country in the world: 653 — with a total number of 22,666 casualties. Still, most Brazilian states and municipalities resist the idea of a strict lockdown. In São Paulo, for example, a six-day “weekend” was created to raise social isolation rates, to no avail. And on a federal level, the government continues to bash even the mildest isolation policies. To avoid keeping people at home against their will — except to perform essential activities — a handful of local administrators from various ends of the political spectrum have tried something different: Covid-19-induced prohibition.

The northeast state of Piauí was the first to restrict alcohol sales — but only during a three-day weekend. Governor Wellington Dias, of the center-left Workers’ Party, said the move aimed at reducing car crashes, which would then reduce hospitalizations for reasons other than Covid-19. He added that forbidding people from drinking in public spaces also makes social distancing easier. “When people drink too much, they lose their sense of judgment, then there’s hugging, kissing, contamination … I want people to go back to hugging, kissing, and celebrating together, but it’s not the time,” said Mr. Dias, without detailing the effects of the move — or why it was only enforced for three days.

In Palmas, the capital city of Tocantins, Mayor Cinthia...

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