Court prohibits the return of in-person classes in Rio de Janeiro.

(Reuters)- Private schools in Rio de Janeiro have been prohibited by the courts from holding in-person classes, just days after the city government authorized private educational institutions to receive students again amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice reported on Thursday.

The decision suspends the effects of the municipal decree that allowed the return of in-person classes in private schools for four years of elementary school starting this week. Despite the authorization, few schools had actually resumed in-person classes, which have been suspended since March, as teachers protested against the return.

Judge Peterson Barroso Simão, of the Third Civil Chamber of the Court of Justice of the State of Rio de Janeiro, stipulated a fine of 10 reais for Mayor Marcelo Crivella if the measure is not complied with.

"The City Hall is prohibited from issuing any other administrative act to promote the return of in-person educational activities in private daycare centers and schools, under penalty of a daily fine of 10 reais imposed on Mayor Marcelo Crivella," informed the Court of Justice, based on the judge's decision.

According to the private school teachers' union, despite permission granted by the city government, few schools opened their doors during the pandemic due to the risk of contagion.

“We have reports that only seven schools opened this week. We have a meeting today with the employers' union, and the decision reinforces our position against the return,” Elson Paiva, director of the private school teachers' union, told Reuters.

When contacted, the city hall did not immediately comment on the decision.

Despite registering a drop in the number of new cases in recent weeks, Rio de Janeiro is still among the state capitals most affected by Covid-19 in Brazil, with almost 74 cases and 8.499 deaths. On Wednesday alone, 80 new deaths and 674 new cases of the disease were recorded.