Bolsonaro waters down law requiring face masks in Brazil

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday approved a law obliging use of masks on streets and in public transport to prevent COVID-19 infections, but he vetoed clauses that would have required m in churches, schools, shops and factories.

Bolsonaro argued that forcing people to use masks in such places could violate property rights.

He also vetoed an article that would have forced government to provide masks to vulnerable groups and that would have required commercial establishments to provide masks to ir employees.

As in United States, use of masks has become contentious and sometimes politicized in Brazil. Bolsonaro himself only sometimes covers his face in public and often mingles with crowds.

Even in cities where masks have been obligatory, compliance and enforcement have been lax.

Brazilian cities last month started lifting restrictions even as COVID-19 cases and deaths continue surging. Latin America’s most populous nation has confirmed more than 61,500 deaths and nearly 1.5 million infections, second most in world, and experts say both are undercounts due to lack of widespread testing. On Thursday, Brazil reported its second highest daily increase in cases, more than 48,000, as well as nearly 1,200 deaths.

statistical curve of cases in Rio de Janeiro, one of Brazil’s hardest-hit cities, has begun to decline along with occupation rate of its intensive-care units. On Thursday, Rio proceeded with its gradual reopening plan by allowing gyms and bars to operate at 50% capacity.

Video posted on social media showed crowds of people spilling out of bars into streets, most of m t wearing masks, though Rio’s goverr on June 4 signed a law establishing fines for failure to use masks in public s.

mayor of Sao Paulo, Brazilian city most affected by COVID-19, anunced last week that its bars and restaurants will reopen on Monday.

Many states -- including Sao Paulo – have used falling intensive-care bed occupancy rates as ir barometer for wher to reopen, said Domingos Alves, an associate professor of social medicine at University of Sao Paulo. surge of daily cases already reflects reopening underway, he said.

“It’s an attempt at ecomic recovery in face of losses that happened in first two months of pandemic. But it’s a plan that will sacrifice population,” Alves said. “It’s about mobilizing commerce. Putting people on streets, garing, and swapping virus all around.”