Economics

Brazilians Are Shunning Reopened Shops as Virus Upends Economy

Stores are opening even before pandemic reaches its peak
Brazil central bank chief warns of fear in domestic economy

Servers wearing protective masks work at restaurant in the Vila Madalena neighborhood of Sao Paulo on July 6.Photographer: Jonne Roriz/Bloomberg

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By Mario Sergio Lima

July 9, 2020 at 10:00 AM UTC

Updated on

July 9, 2020 at 1:52 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Brazil’s aggressive push to reopen businesses before controlling the coronavirus pandemic is so far yielding only modest gains, with industrial output and retail recovering just part of their historic losses.

Cities from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia are lifting restrictions on commerce while new cases of Covid-19 hover near records. As the World Health Organization warns the peak of the pandemic remains weeks away, even President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.