SAO PAULO, 18 Nov

Brazil's southeast state of Sao Paulo, the most populous and hardest hit by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), decided to extend lockdown until Dec. 16, due to a rise in hospitalizations, according to a decree published Tuesday in the Government Gazette.

"The lockdown measure instituted on March 22, 2020 is extended until Dec. 16," indicates the decree signed by Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria, whose state has seen more than 40,000 deaths from COVID-19.

The measure maintains restrictions on economic and recreational activities in the state, home to 46 million inhabitants.

Sao Paulo has Brazil's highest number of deaths and cases.

The state's secretary of health, Jean Gorinchteyn, announced that more restrictive measures will be taken if the rates of infection, hospitalization and death rise again.

xinhua