Brazil crowded public transport as lockdown is lifted

While the number of COVID-19 infections in Brazil keeps increasing, crowded buses and trains are seen in Rio de Janeiro unable to apply social distance measures.

City Hall established on Thursday that buses can have no more than two passengers per square metern (yard).

Marks on the floor will have to be done in order to help people to keep social distance.

With a deep economic crisis and almost three months of quarantine, the residents take the risks of travelling.

Buses are too crowded said bus passenger Manuel Sebastião.

"There are stops where the doors don't even close because there are so many people," he said.

Wearing masks continues to be mandatory on all public transportation, but does not happen all the time.

Commuter Tatiana Pontes says she doesn't feel safe on public transportation.

"It seems that it is even more crowded now. We travel with the air conditioning on, and all the windows closed, there is no way we can feel safe with things the way they are – no way," she said.

More than 9,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Rio de Janeiro, and almost 106,000 have been infected.

Brazil has the world's second-highest number of deaths and confirmed cases, after the United States.

(Image Credit Pixabay)