First major city in Brazil declares lockdown as virus spreads

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's São Luis became the nation's first major city to begin a coronavirus "lockdown" on Tuesday, a measure that underscores widespread fears that health services across Brazil could soon collapse under the pressure of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tuesday's lockdown measure covers São Luis and parts of three other municipalities with a total population of around 1.3 million people in the Maranhão state. It forbids people from going outside except to obtain groceries, medication or cleaning supplies.