The SP government suspends the tightening of the quarantine on weekends | Saint Paul

According to the initial forecast, the measure, in force since January 25, would remain until February 7. With the announcement of this Wednesday, it will cease to be valid next Saturday (6).

With the revocation, establishments such as shopping centers, restaurants and shops can return to operate on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays in the regions that are in the orange phase of the economic expansion plan. (See below for current ranking of state regions)

When the tightening of the quarantine was announced on weekends, the government also said that only essential services could operate after 8 p.m. on weekdays. However, the measure did not have a practical effect of change, since the orange phase no longer allows operation after 8 pm, as it will continue to do.

Doria’s management affirms that the measures have already improved health indicators and, therefore, were canceled before the initial deadline.

“Fortunately we had a drop in hospitalizations throughout the state of São Paulo, both in primary beds and in intensive care beds (ICU), which allows us to suspend the decision to close economic activities this weekend throughout the state. We had an 11% decrease in the number of hospitalizations for Covid-19 in public and private beds and the government believes that we can allow weekend activities to resume, ”said Governor João Doria.

This Tuesday (2), the state of SP registered 67% occupancy of ICU beds, a slight drop compared to the figures of the previous week, when the index was above 70%.

However, 15 state hospitals have more than 80% occupancy and six of them can no longer treat new patients due to lack of places. Death figures are stable at a level above 200 deaths per day.

Grants to the bars and restaurants sector

During the press conference, the government also announced measures to assist the bar and restaurant sector, which has carried out several mobilizations in recent days, against additional operational restrictions.

The package provides for a credit of R $ 125 million, in addition to the suspension of the cut in the supply of gas and water in commercial establishments due to non-payment at the end of March. Still, according to the government, outstanding accounts can be paid in installments without interest or penalties.

It was also announced that the protest of the debts registered in the active debt will be suspended for 90 days so that the entrepreneurs have the ability to acquire financing.

Doria’s management should publish a new reclassification of the São Paulo Plan next Friday (5).

Last week, the government included Ribeirão Preto in the red phase, the most restrictive. The change came after the region reached 82% in the ICU bed occupancy rate for Covid-19.

The Sorocaba and Presidente Prudente regions registered improvements in health indicators and advanced to the orange phase.

The first weekend in which the entire state was in the red phase of the proposal was marked by crowded beaches in Baixada Santista and protests from restaurant owners.

The most restrictive social isolation rules, determined from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am on weekdays and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, came into effect last Monday (25).

At this stage, only essential services, such as bakeries, markets and pharmacies, are authorized. Already bars, restaurants and shops cannot work.

In early January, the government made changes to the rules for operating the orange phase and made it more permissive.

Among the flexibilities is the authorization for bars to operate during restaurant hours, if they serve food to customers who are seated.

Since the beginning of the year, the government of São Paulo has been performing weekly reclassifications. At the end of 2020, state management even put the state in the red phase during the Christmas season to try to avoid crowds and consequently the risks of contamination.

The last reclassification of the São Paulo Plan occurred on January 29.

The São Paulo Plan foresees the degradation to phases with more restrictive quarantine rules in regions that have a large weekly increase in new admissions, deaths, cases or bed occupancy rates in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

On the 15th, the São Paulo government ordered the cancellation of elective surgeries in all public and accredited hospitals in the state. On the occasion, the reactivation of the Heliópolis Field Hospital in the capital was also announced.

The government also changed the parameter of the bed occupancy rate of the Intensive Care Units (ICU) in the red phase, which went from 80 to 75%. According to the rules, no region will be able to switch to the green and yellow phases before February 8.

Red: only essential services work

• Marilia
• Frank
• Barretos
• Bauru
• Taubate
• Ribeirão Preto

Orange: bars do not open and other services operate with time and capacity restrictions.

• Sao Paulo big
• Aracatuba
• Piracicaba
• Sao Jose do Rio Preto
• Registry
• Araraquara
• Baixada Santista
• Campinas
• Sao Joao da Boa Vista
• Prudent President
• Sorocaba

What works in the orange phase

(This phase changed on January 5 and became more permissive)

• Now all sectors of commerce and services are allowed. The exception is face-to-face service in bars, which is still prohibited.
• Occupancy capacity: before it was 20% and goes to 40% in all sectors.
• Maximum operation: extended from 4 to 8 hours a day.
• Closing time: the face-to-face service can only be carried out until 8:00 p.m.
• State parks, hair salons, and gyms – May open.

What works in the yellow phase

• Maximum capacity is now limited to 40% occupancy for all sectors. Before, the percentage varied by sector: gyms could operate with only 30% occupancy, for example.
• The face-to-face service to the public can only be performed until 10:00 p.m. in all sectors, except the bar sector, which can operate until 8:00 p.m.
• Opening hours are limited to 10 hours a day for all sectors. Before, the hours varied according to the sector.

Essential services that can work in the red phase

• Pharmacy
• Markets
• Bakeries
• Butcher shop
• Gas stations
• Laundries
• Public transportation, such as buses, trains, and the subway.
• Carriers, vehicle workshops
• Religious activities
• Hotels, inns and other hotel services.
• Banks
• Pet Shop

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