RIO DE JANEIRO – Authorities in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro begged the population to stay home, but thousands of Brazilians are traveling to coastal cities and ignoring recommendations on the first weekend of a 10-day holiday period decreed to contain the increase in COVID-19 infections in the country.
Some residents are clearing out and taking advantage of the holidays, despite warnings from authorities. Brazil’s two biggest cities, Rio and Sao Paulo, have imposed extensive restrictions on nonessential activities.
Their state authorities brought forward holidays to create a 10-day break period, which started Friday. Many scenes in Brazilian cities show the difficulty that authorities are facing in enlisting the cooperation of the