Sao Paulo state stops professional sports as COVID-19 rages

By: The Associated Press Posted: 11:21 AM CST Thursday, Mar. 11, 2021 Last Modified: 11:45 AM CST Thursday, Mar. 11, 2021

Advertise with us

SAO PAULO - Professional sports in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo will stop from Monday until March 30 because of a rise in coronavirus cases, Gov. João Doria said Thursday.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

SAO PAULO - Professional sports in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo will stop from Monday until March 30 because of a rise in coronavirus cases, Gov. João Doria said Thursday.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/03/2021 (2031 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SAO PAULO – Professional sports in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo will stop from Monday until March 30 because of a rise in coronavirus cases, Gov. João Doria said Thursday.

The decision includes the local soccer championship, which started less than two weeks ago.

Doria said that activities that produce large gatherings need to stop before the state’s health system collapses. More than 87% of intensive care unit beds in the state are taken by patients of the virus, a record number.

Relatives grieve as they attend a burial service of a person who died from complications related to COVID-19 at the Vila Formosa cemetery in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, March 11, 2021. One year after the World Health Organization officially declared the spread of the coronavirus a pandemic, Brazil is reporting almost 2,000 deaths per day. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

On Tuesday, a record 517 deaths attributed to the disease were registered in the state.

Doria said the measure does not impact national and international competitions being played in Sao Paulo, such as the Copa Libertadores.

Earlier Thursday, Sao Paulo’s soccer body argued that other leagues around the world have continued playing under protocols regardless of the state of the pandemic. But doubts about Sao Paulo’s soccer protocols came about after almost 20 players and staffers at Corinthians contracted the virus this month.

Sao Paulo-based clubs have a meeting later Thursday to discuss whether matches should be played in other states.

More than 270,000 people have died with COVID-19 in Brazil.