* The mayor of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, has announced a social aid package to minimise the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on the most vulnerable, as the city goes into a 10-day lockdown from 26 March in a bid to bring the healthcare crisis under control. The ‘Auxílio Carioca’ consists of four types of financial aid, destined to help poor families, school children, and street vendors. According to Paes, around 50,000 families which are already registered for certain benefits will receive an average R$240 (US$42.70); 23,000 families in a situation of extreme poverty will receive R$200; 643,000 school children will receive a R$108.50 food voucher, in two installments; and some 13,000 street sellers will receive R$500 apiece. This aid package will reach 900,000 people - around 14% of Rio’s population – and cost R$100m. End of preview - This article contains approximately 152 words.
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