Prognosis

Sao Paulo Imposes Harshest Measures in Months Amid Virus Spike

Non-essential businesses must shut at night, weekends
Brazil’s richest state saw cases, deaths jump 40% in January

Shoppers wearing protective masks walk on 25 de Marco street in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. Photographer: Jonne Roriz/Bloomberg

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By Andre Romani Pinto

January 22, 2021 at 4:45 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Brazil’s richest state ordered all non-essential activities closed on weekends and limited operating hours on weekdays, the harshest measures imposed in months as the epicenter of the pandemic in the country battles a new surge in cases.

Bars, restaurants and services including hairdressers have to remain shut between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays across the state of Sao Paulo starting Monday, officials including Governor Joao Doria said at a press conference. The restrictions also forbid those businesses of operating during weekends and holidays until Feb. 7