Brazil`s infrastructure minister rules out closing logistics channels due to coronavirus

On Friday March 20, Brazil`s Infrastructure Minister, Tarcísio de Freitas, said the country cannot afford to create sanitary barriers in an effort to contain the advancement of the coronavirus, which hinder the logistics of important products such as medicines and food. In an interview with Globonews, the minister also stated that the government is working so that channels such as highways, ports and airports will continue to function.

The minister stressed that in the moment of crisis it is important to comply with legislation, so that the country can get through this situation “well”. Also according to the minister, the measure taken at state level by Rio de Janeiro to close highways and airports is not valid since it is the federal government that regulates the matter, and airports and highways will remain open, albeit with greater control in place.

#CoronaVírus Presidente @JairBolsonaro deu como missão ao @MInfraestrutura garantir a circulação e o abastecimento de insumos, mercadorias e itens básicos em todas as regiões. Saúde da população em 1º lugar. Focaremos na segurança, orientação e proteção de nossos profissionais1/6 pic.twitter.com/YI4rYF6muj

— Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas (@tarcisiogdf) March 18, 2020

Regarding threats from Santos stevedores threatening to stop work due to fears about the coronavirus, the minister said that the government will take actions to preserve port workers` health, focusing more on the elderly who are most vulnerable to disease. To this end, Brazil will adopt a minimum income policy to provide for those workers who end up released from activities.

Source: Reuters

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