A passenger wearing a face mask is seen at a bus station in Brasilia, Brazil, on March 17, 2020. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua)

Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, on Wednesday announced it was closing all shopping centers and fitness clubs until the end of April to contain the COVID-19 epidemic.

Sao Paulo State Governor Joao Doria said the measure applied to the city and its metropolitan area, which encompasses some 38 surrounding communities.

Brazil's most populous city had seen about half of the 291 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country as of Tuesday.

Businesses have been given a few days to plan for the more than month-long suspension of activities, and are to close starting next week.

Meanwhile, public and private schools across the state are also to temporarily close next week.

"Our recommendation is to avoid crowds. It is up to each citizen to exercise caution and good sense," the governor said, adding some "measures are taken based on the recommendations of the medical and public health sector."

The state government additionally announced a series of economic measures, such as making about 100 million US dollars available in credit for businesses in the tourism, commerce and creative economy sectors.

Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are so far the only states where there has been community transmission of COVID-19, but infections have been registered in all Brazilian regions and most of the country's 27 states.