Rio relaxes mask mandates as COVID cases wane

Rio de Janeiro is relaxing the use of masks as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes in Brazil.

The country is one of the hardest-hit nations, counting more than 650-thousand confirmed deaths, and the second most after the United States. In Brazil's Federal District, where the capital Brasilia lies, authorities have decided the use of masks is mandatory only indoors. Local media say Sao Paulo will take the same step. Brazil's vaccination campaign has been successful and the country's contamination rates and death numbers have fallen consistently. More than 150 million people, all above the age of five, have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.