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Malls in Brazil's Rio to open 24 hours for Christmas

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/reuters/05/24/20190524-brazil-flag.jpg"/></figure></div><p>RIO DE JANEIRO - Rio de Janeiro&#x27;s shopping malls will stay open 24 hours a day through Christmas, authorities announced Friday, hoping to avoid overcrowding amidst a second wave of coronavirus.</p><p>The move goes against the recommendations of scientists who are advocating new restrictions in the Brazilian city, given a worrying increase in Covid-19 deaths and infections.</p><p>Brazil has the second-highest death toll in the pandemic, after the United States, with more than 175,000 people killed.</p><p>More than 23,000 of the deaths occurred in Rio state, where the mortality rate linked to the virus is the highest in the country.</p><p>Rio city council&#x27;s scientific committee this week recommended beaches be shut down and bar and restaurant trading hours reduced.</p><p>Rio&#x27;s mayor Marcelo Crivella said keeping shopping malls open at all hours would ease the Christmas crush.</p><p>&quot;With shopping centers open 24 hours a day, the population will not need to rush to them,&quot; Crivella told a press conference.</p><p>The measure will come into effect on Saturday and remain in force throughout December, the mayor said on Twitter.</p><p>The only restrictions announced are the closure of municipal schools only weeks after they reopened.</p><p>The mayor&#x27;s office and the Rio state government have also announced an increase in hospital capacity with intensive care occupancy rates at over 90 percent for the past week.</p><p>Infectious disease specialist Celso Ferreira Ramos Filho, head of the Society of Medicine in Rio, said the measures are &quot;questionable&quot;.</p><p>&quot;We really think that the shopping centers will remain open in the middle of the night, with few customers and more energy and staff costs? It won&#x27;t have any real affect,&quot; said Ramos Filho, who is also a member of the city council&#x27;s scientific committee.</p><p>&quot;That said, anything that can reduce gatherings is welcome,&quot; he said.</p><p>Apart from the compulsory use of masks in public places, life has returned almost to normal in Rio, with crowded beaches and bars at weekends.</p><p>Non-essential businesses remained closed for several months from March, before gradually reopening in June.</p><div><br/><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><br/><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MgcOckZAjv8?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Rio de Janeiro's shopping malls will stay open 24 hours a day through Christmas, authorities announced Friday, hoping to avoid overcrowding amidst a second wave of coronavirus.</p>

Rio de Janeiro's shopping malls will stay open 24 hours a day through Christmas, authorities announced Friday, hoping to avoid overcrowding amidst a second wave of coronavirus.