Location: Worldwide/Brazil
Event: Some Brazilian Cities to Start Requiring Face Masks
Please note that some cities in Brazil, for example Belo Horizonte (effective April 22, 2020), Rio de Janeiro (effective April 23, 2020), and Salvador (effective April 24, 2020), are requiring facial coverings/masks. These policies are subject to change and local authorities in other cities may take similar measures.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.
The use of cloth facial coverings is intended to diminish the amount of respiratory droplets that wearers put out into the environment, thus protecting others in close proximity to the wearer. Facial coverings are not predominantly a measure to protect the wearer but rather to protect others from the wearer, who may be potentially spreading the virus even if they are not yet ill.
The CDC has issued a Global Level 3 Warning which recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential international travel due to widespread ongoing global transmission COVID-19.
Actions to Take:
- Dial 192 for emergency services in Brazil if you have severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing.
- Review the latest CDC guidance regarding the use of facial coverings.
- If in Brazil, check with your local municipality on their mask policy. See Brazilian state contact information here.
- Consider making or purchases a cloth face mask for use in public settings where social distancing is difficult. See here for sew and no sew instructions.
Resources:
- Visit the CDC website for the most up-to-date information on the disease. For information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19, please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Brazil.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information regarding foreign countries’ quarantine requirements and other global impacts.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions affecting travel to the U.S.
Assistance:
United States Embassy and Consulates General in Brazil:
U.S. Embassy Brasilia
SES – Av. das Nações, Quadra 801, Lote 03
Brasília, DF – 70403-900
Phone: (61) 3312-7000
After-Hours Emergencies: (61) 3312-7400
E-mail: BrasiliaACS@state.gov
Embassy Branch Office in Belo Horizonte
Avenida do Contorno, 4520 / 2nd floor – Funcionários
Belo Horizonte, MG – 30110-028
Telephone: +55 (31) 3338-4000
E-mail: BrasiliaACS@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Recife
Rua Goncalves Maia, 163 Bairro Boa Vista
Recife, PE – 50.070-060
Phone: (81) 3416-3050
After-Hours Emergencies: (81) 99916-9470
Email: RecifeACS@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Rio de Janeiro
Av. Presidente Wilson, 147 Castelo
Rio de Janeiro, RJ — 20030-020
Entrance at Rua Santa Luzia
Phone: (21) 3823-2000
After-Hours Emergencies: (21) 3823-2029
Email: ACSRio@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General São Paulo
Rua Henri Dunant, 500,
Chácara Santo Antonio,
São Paulo, SP — 04709-110
Phone: (11) 3250-5000
After-Hours Emergencies: (11) 3250-5373
E-mail: SaoPauloACS@state.gov
U.S. Consulate General Porto Alegre
Avenida Assis Brasil, 1889 Passo d’Areia
Porto Alegre, RS – 91350-110
Phone: 51-3345-6000
After-Hours Emergencies: 51-3345-6000
Email: PortoalegreACS@state.gov
For further information:
- State Department – Consular Affairs
888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444- Brazil Country Specific Information
- Enroll in Safe Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates
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