- Title: Brazil's biggest city Sao Paulo in lockdown to halt coronavirus spread
- Date: 24th March 2020
- Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (MARCH 24, 2020) (REUTERS) (MUTE) VARIOUS, DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING EMPTY STREETS SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (MARCH 24, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS, FEW PEOPLE IN NORMALLY BUSY METRO VARIOUS, EMPTY STAIRS WOMAN WEARING FACE MASK (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) LOCAL RESIDENT, GIDALVA DOS SANTOS, SAYING: "Everything is empty, everything is empty, the bus, train, metro, everything is empty." EMPTY STAIRS MAN WEARING FACE MASK (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) LOCAL RESIDENT, ANTONIO LIMA, SAYING: "It (COVID-19) is a recurring concern because I have employees to pay. If it stops and there is no financial solution, companies will go bankrupt." VARIOUS, EMPTY STREETS
- Embargoed: 7th April 2020 19:37
- Keywords: Brazil COVID-19 Sao Paulo coronavirus empty streets
- Location: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
- City: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Reuters ID: LVA001C6EXNPJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Sao Paulo, the largest city in the southern hemisphere, went into lockdown with all non-essential services closed and with streets largely deserted on Tuesday (March 24) in order to halt the spread of the coronavirus
During morning rush hour the city's streets, usually gridlocked with some of the worst traffic in the Americas, were quiet. The offices and shopping centers of financial artery Faria Lima were closed.
The state government ordered all non-essential services and businesses to close in the country's largest city for two-weeks.
Buses are still running and construction has been allowed to continue in a bid to avoid complete economic collapse in Brazil's financial hub.
Restaurants are open for takeout and delivery men and women whizzed through the thinning traffic on bikes and scooters.
Brazil's confirmed cases of the virus have tripled in four days to 1,891, with deaths rising to 34 from 25 on Sunday (March 22), according to data released by the Health Ministry on Monday.
Sao Paulo, which recorded the first cases in Brazil, has been the hardest hit.
(Production: Leonardo Benassatto) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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