Brazil's Sao Paulo state plans to gradually reopen its economy in a “safe” way starting on May 11 by relaxing some social distancing measures put in place to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, Reuters quoted Governor Joao Doria as saying on Wednesday.

In the meantime, Doria told a news conference, statewide quarantine rules will remain in place in Sao Paulo, which is the country's financial hub, most populated state and epicentre of Brazil's coronavirus outbreak.

The state's death toll from Covid-19 is expected to reach 3,000 by May 3, according to state Health Secretary Jos Henrique Germann.

Brazil's Health Ministry said on Wednesday the country had 45,747 Covid-19 cases and 2,906 deaths.