Sao Paulo extends lockdown amid surge in COVID-19 cases

 Brazil's southeast state of Sao Paulo on Wednesday announced that its lockdown measures would be prolonged until July 15 in a bid to reduce infections and hospital occupation, and advance vaccination.

"Due to the high rates of pandemic cases, hospitalizations and deaths, we will follow the recommendations of our team of scientists to extend the collective care measures," Joao Doria, governor of Sao Paulo, told reporters at a press conference.

Lockdown measures include a 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew, and a 40-percent cap on capacity at restaurants and shopping centers.

Doria warned the outbreak was on the rise, with a daily average of 17,000 new cases of infection and 500 deaths.

Sao Paulo is the state hardest hit by COVID-19. Home to 46 million residents, it has reported 123,101 COVID-19 deaths and 3,610,743 cases of infection.