SAO PAULO (AP) – A lot of COVID-19 cases stop samba in Brazil’s largest metropolis, while Argentina’s capital is heading for the top of the tango.
The two largest cities in each of South America’s neighboring countries are heading in opposite directions, reflecting how those who loosen restrictions, despite warnings from scientists, are seeing an increase in the pandemic, while others are keeping up. social distancing measures are able to reopen their economies earlier.
Sao Paulo, home to nearly 12 million people, is rising for the worst two weeks so far in the pandemic and the increased risk of its once resilient health system collapsing, Gov. João Doria said on Wednesday. Over 75% of the city’s intensive care beds are occupied by patients with COVID-19 and some wards – such as those of the Albert Einstein Private Hospital – are full for the first time.
Doria announced that the entire state, where 46 million people live, will face the highest level of restrictions on Saturday to stop the spread of the virus. This means closing all bars, restaurants, shopping malls and any other unit considered non-essential until at least 19 March.
Meanwhile, Buenos Aires’ nearly 3 million people are enjoying a reduction in restrictions, with permission to participate in cinemas coming into effect this week. On Wednesday, official figures showed that only 26% of intensive care beds were occupied by patients with COVID-19. The low hospitalization rate also allowed local authorities in mid-February to reopen bars and restaurants until 2 a.m. – something long sought after in a city famous for its all-time culture.
This means that the famous steakhouses in Buenos Aires are resuming their fire, while their counterparts in Sao Paulo are putting them out.
Buenos Aires casinos have reopened at the end of 2020, and authorities are debating whether the crazy football city will soon be able to return to the stadiums. In Brazil, despite Bolsonaro’s efforts to allow fans to return, no local authority is seriously considering opening the stadiums. The 48,000-seat NeoQuimica Arena in the eastern part of Sao Paulo is used as a vaccination station.
Some good news from the Sao Paulo region came on Tuesday, when the great football Pelé received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The 80-year-old posted the news on his social channels.
“The pandemic is not over yet. We have to keep the discipline to keep the lives until many people get the vaccine, “said the three-time World Cup winner. “When you go out, please don’t forget the mask and keep your social distance.”
His plea is important – even a year after the pandemic began – Bolsonaro continues to question the effectiveness of the masks.
The distance between the two nations seems to have widened during the pandemic, with Bolsonaro and Argentine Alberto Fernández taking opposing approaches to crisis management. The former minimized the risks of the disease and insisted on maintaining the economy, while the latter took a more cautious approach.
Fernández imposed one of the longest quarantines in the world between March and October, despite the risks of damaging an already recessionary economy.
In the last week, Brazil recorded 35 COVID-19 deaths per million inhabitants, almost three times higher than in Argentina.
The troubles in Sao Paulo have worsened after the furtive carnival celebrations in mid-February. Although the holidays and street parades were canceled, many Paulists, as residents are known, traveled or joined unmasked gatherings. The city refused to allow days traditionally allowed during the carnival, in an attempt to prevent people from spending.
Izidoro Silveira, 34, got a job at a pizzeria in downtown Sao Paulo two months ago, after nearly a year of unemployment. He is upset by the imminent closure of his restaurant.
“Those who make deliveries will not be hurt, but I and many others will,” said a worried Silveira as he watched a TV show 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 if I work in a place that takes every precaution. ”
Not far away, the cinemas on the city’s main road, Paulista Boulevard, are empty, as they have been since the pandemic began.
Argentina’s ease does not mean that the virus is completely under control. Wednesday’s official figures showed 262 deaths and more than 8,700 new infections in the country. The launch of the vaccine is slow. But the overwhelming darkness seen in Sao Paulo seems far from Buenos Aires.
With a bag of popcorn in one hand and a soft drink in the other, 8-year-old Bautista Sundblat was eager to enter a movie theater in the Tony Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires to watch “Bad Boys Forever.”
“He is very excited,” said his mother, Martina. “I have been waiting for a long time. There are few places, everything has been taken care of. He’s a movie fanatic. There is still a long way to go, but little by little we get where we wanted to go. “
___ Rey reported from Buenos Aires.