In order to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus and promote social isolation, the Sao Paulo government has introduced an emergency measure that mandates an accelerated use of the next five holidays scheduled in 2021 and 2022. The five anticipated holidays would be taken between 26 March 26 and 4 April 2021.
Key details
Coordination of contingency measures for the control of the pandemic has been somewhat piecemeal and so the Sao Paulo government has decided to accelerate the use of two holidays scheduled in 2021 (Corpus Christi and Black Awareness Day) and three holidays scheduled in 2022 (Corpus Christi, Black Awareness Day and Sao Paulo Anniversary). The five anticipated holidays would be taken on:
- 26 March 2021
- 29-31 March 2021
- 1 April 2021
The city aims to ensure people stay indoors for 10 days from 26 March 2021 until 4 April 2021, since 2 April 2021 is a national holiday (Passion of Christ).
All businesses that cannot operate remotely (shops, industries, restaurants) need to be closed during that timeframe. However, companies that can operate remotely have the option to continue operating so long as their offices are closed since their employees will already be socially isolating. Remote employees of these companies who will be working during this timeframe will be able to enjoy the five holidays in question at their originally scheduled times in 2021 and 2022. Many companies, including the financial sector (banks and the stock exchange) have already decided to continue operating, and maintain the holidays in their original dates.
