SAO PAULO (AP) – A wave of COVID-19 cases is stopping samba steps in Brazil’s largest metropolis as the Argentine capital heads to the tip of the tango.
The two largest cities in each of South America’s neighboring countries are heading in opposite directions, reflecting how those easing restrictions despite warnings from scientists see a rise in the pandemic while others maintaining social distancing measures may reopen their economies sooner.
Sao Paulo, home to nearly 12 million people, is preparing for the worst two weeks of the pandemic and the growing risk of its once-resistant health system collapsing, Gov. João Doria said Wednesday. . More than 75% of the city’s intensive care beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients and some rooms, such as those at Albert Einstein Private Hospital, are full for the first time.
Doria announced that the entire state, home to 46 million people, will have the highest level of restrictions on Saturday to stop the spread of the virus. This means the closure of all bars, restaurants, shopping malls and any other establishment that is considered non-essential until at least March 19th.
Meanwhile, the nearly 3 million residents in Buenos Aires are enjoying the easing of their restrictions, with permission to attend movie theaters coming into effect this week. On Wednesday, official figures showed that only 26% of intensive care beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients. The low rate of hospitalization also allowed local authorities in mid-February to reopen bars and restaurants until two in the morning, something that had long been sought in a city famous for its culture of all. the hours.
That means Buenos Aires ’famous meat houses are re-lighting their fires, while their Sao Paulo counterparts are putting out theirs.
Buenos Aires casinos also reopened in late 2020 and authorities are debating whether the crazy city of football will be able to return to stadiums soon. In Brazil, despite Bolsonaro’s push to leave fans behind, no local authority is seriously considering opening stadiums. The 48,000-seat NeoQuimica Stadium on the east side of Sao Paulo is used as a vaccination site.
Some good news from the Sao Paulo region came on Tuesday, when great footballer Pelé received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The 80-year-old posted the news on his social media channels.
“The pandemic is not over yet. We need to maintain discipline to preserve life until a lot of people have been vaccinated, “said the three-time World Cup winner.” When you go out, don’t forget the mask and keep your social distance. “
His plea is important, even a year after the pandemic began, as Bolsonaro continues to doubt the effectiveness of the masks.
The distance between the two nations seems to have widened during the pandemic, with Bolsonaro and the Argentine Alberto Fernández, who have adopted opposing ways in managing the crisis. The former downplayed the risks of the disease and has insisted on keeping the economy on hold, while the latter has taken a more cautious approach.
Fernández imposed one of the longest quarantines in the world between March and October, despite the risks of damaging an economy that was already in recession.
Over the past week, Brazil has recorded 35 deaths from COVID-19 per million residents, nearly three times as many as Argentina.
Problems in Sao Paulo worsened after the furtive Carnival celebrations in mid-February. Although the celebrations and parades in the street were canceled, many Paulistas, as residents are known, traveled or joined meetings without masking. The city refused to allow the traditionally allowed work days during the carnival period, to try to prevent people from partying.
Izidoro Silveira, 34, got a job waiting table at a pizzeria in central Sao Paulo two months ago, after nearly a full year of unemployment. He is upset by the impending shutdown of his restaurant.
“Those who make deliveries will not be harmed, but I and many others will,” a distressed Silveira said as he watched a television news broadcast about the closure. “I do not know what to say to my wife and daughter. I’m afraid I’ll lose my job again, even though I’m working in a place that takes every precaution. “
Not far away, the cinemas on the city’s main drag, Paulista Avenue, are empty, as they have been since the pandemic began.
The Argentine facility does not mean that the virus is completely controlled. Official figures for Wednesday showed 262 deaths and more than 8,700 new infections in the country. Deployment of vaccines is slow. But the overwhelming gloom seen in Sao Paulo seems to be far from Buenos Aires.
With a bag of popcorn in one hand and a soda in the other, eight-year-old Bautista Sundblat was eager to enter a movie theater in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires to see “Bad Boys Forever.” .
“He’s very excited,” his mother, Martina, said. “It simply came to our notice then. There are few seats, everything has been taken care of. He is a fan of the film. There is still a long way to go, but little by little we are getting where we wanted to be ”.
___ Rey reported from Buenos Aires.