Security Brief for Brazil prepared on: Jul 12, 2021 5:47:47 PM UTC Security Assessment Rating Security Rating for Brazil: 3 - Moderate Sub-Ratings 1 2 3 4 5 Crime 4 Overall Rating: Security Services 4 3 Civil Unrest 3 Terrorism 2 Moderate Kidnapping 4 Geopolitical 3 Security Overview : Overview of Brazil There are no major conflict threats for Brazil either internally or externally. Crime in Brazil ranges from principally opportunistic in cities like Florianopolis to a mix of opportunistic and violent in Rio de Janeiro to more heavily violent in cities such as Salvador. In general, most violent crime is concentrated in the northeast. There exist minor concerns over the presence of radical Islamist sympathizers in the tri-border area (TBA). Arrests of such sympathizers have also been made elsewhere in the country. Brazil has developed a strong protest culture in recent years, particularly over political and economic issues. No Current Security Alerts Other Alerts & Advisories Warning Alerts Entry/Exit: Several Brazilian states maintain domestic COVID-19 restrictions as of July 1. Incident: COVID-19 restrictions Location(s): Nationwide (map) Time Frame: Indefinite Impact: Transport, travel, and business disruptions Summary Authorities continue to maintain domestic COVID-19-related restrictions in most states in Brazil as of July 1. Measures in force across the country include the following: Bahia: Most municipalities will remain under a 22:00-05:00 nightly curfew through at least July 8. The sale of alcoholic beverages will be banned in most parts of the state from 18:00 July 1 through 05:00 July 5. Events that may lead to public gatherings remain banned. Restrictions vary by municipality. Federal District (Brasilia): Authorities have shortened the nightly curfew to 01:00-05:00; most nonessential businesses can remain open until 00:01 with capacity limits and restrictions in place. Ceara: The statewide nightly 23:00-05:00 curfew remains in place; however, most schools have been allowed to reopen. Most businesses may operate at a limited capacity; restrictions vary by municipality. Parana: The statewide nightly curfew has been shortened and will be in effect 22:00-05:00 daily. Curitiba's curfew has also been shortened to 23:00-05:00. In most parts of the state, businesses may operate with limited capacity, and the requirement for businesses to close on Sundays has been lifted for restaurants and bars. Large events and public gatherings remain banned. Rio de Janeiro: Within the city of Rio de Janeiro, most businesses and retail stores are restricted to operating at limited capacity. Clubs must remain closed. Restrictions will remain in place until at least July 12. Sao Paulo: A nightly 21:00-05:00 curfew remains in effect until at least July 15 in most of the state. Most businesses, including restaurants, personal care services, parks, clubs, and some entertainment establishments, can operate at 40 percent capacity between 06:00-21:00. Travel Restrictions Restrictions for travelers entering Brazil have remained largely unchanged. As of July 1, nonresident travelers who have been in India, South Africa, or the UK within 14 days prior to arrival are banned from entering the country. Citizens, legal residents, and family members of Brazilian nationals, as well as essential travelers with permits who have traveled through those countries within the past 14 days, will be permitted to return to Brazil. However, these travelers must complete a two-week quarantine period upon arrival. Travelers entering Brazil by air from other destinations must present a negative result from an RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before travel and must complete a pre-arrival health declaration form. Foreign citizens are allowed to enter Brazil by air for visits of no longer than 90 days. Most nonresident foreign nationals remain prohibited from entering the country by land and water. Brazilian citizens, permanent residents, and their immediate family members, as well as foreign residents working for international organizations or traveling for trade or humanitarian purposes, are exempt from the ban. Apart from the overarching land border closures and as part of a joint agreement, the land border crossings with Paraguay - specifically those at Foz do Iguacu, Ponta Pora, and Mundo Novo - are open. The government has also reopened sections of the land border with Venezuela to allow the entry of individuals in need of humanitarian assistance. State and municipal officials could continue to modify their local restrictions depending on local disease activity and government preparedness to respond to the disease. All restrictions are subject to amendment at short notice. Advice Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements before arrival. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Plan for queues and delays at available shopping centers. Resources World Health Organization (WHO) Ministry of Health (Portuguese) Sao Paulo State - COVID-19 (Portuguese) Rio de Janeiro State - COVID-19 (Portuguese) Alert begins: 07/01/2021 Health: High COVID-19 activity continues throughout the South American region during June 2021. Maintain basic health precautions. Incident: COVID-19 transmission Location(s): South America (map) Period: May-June 2021 Transmission: Respiratory (coughing, sneezing, speaking) Summary Several South American countries continue to report COVID-19 transmission through June 30. The following countries have identified confirmed COVID-19 cases June 2-30. Countries are classified by risk of transmission according to the incidence rate over the past four weeks: Very high risk of transmission Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia French Guiana Paraguay Suriname Uruguay High risk of transmission Ecuador Guyana Peru Venezuela Background and Analysis COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Human-to-human transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets from infected individuals or contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Symptoms occur 1-14 days following exposure (average of 3-7 days). These symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, and dry cough; less common symptoms include headache, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, reddening of the eyes, skin rash, or discoloration of the fingers or toes. Symptoms may worsen to difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and organ failure - especially in those with underlying, chronic medical conditions. Some infected individuals display no symptoms. Multiple variants of COVID-19 have been identified globally, some of which spread more easily between people. COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed to frontline workers and the elderly in some countries, while other vaccines are in varying stages of development and clinical trials; more data is required to determine the efficacy of vaccines against COVID-19 variants. Older individuals and people of any age with chronic medical conditions or compromised immunity should consider postponing nonessential travel, including domestic travel, and take special precautions to avoid becoming ill, especially where sustained community transmission of COVID-19 is ongoing. All individuals should monitor their health and limit interactions with others for 14 days after returning from travel. Advice Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease; however, several COVID-19 vaccines have been made available and distributed in some countries. Monitor government vaccination schedules, and get a government-approved vaccine when eligible and when it is offered. All individuals, including vaccinated individuals, should continue to prioritize basic health precautions as long-term immunity against COVID-19 is still being investigated. Resources WHO coronavirus knowledge base WHO: Public health considerations while resuming international travel US CDC: Guidance for Businesses and Workplaces US CDC: Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities Mental Health Considerations during COVID-19 Outbreak US CDC: Manage Anxiety and Stress New England Journal of Medicine: COVID Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions Alert begins: 06/30/2021 Health: Elevated chikungunya activity continues in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, during June 2021. Avoid mosquito bites. Event: Chikungunya Affected Area(s): Sao Paulo State (map) Period: January-July 2021 Cases: 12,918 Transmission: Mosquito bites Summary Brazilian authorities report continued elevated chikungunya activity in Sao Paulo State during 2021, with an additional 945 cases reported May 17-June 13, bringing the total case count to 12,918 cases since Jan. 1. Over a similar period in 2020, only 487 cases were reported. The city of Santos is most affected. This represents the most complete information available as