A staff member disinfects the ground at the Clinicas Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, March 24, 2020. (File photo: Xinhua)

BRASILIA, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Brazil on Wednesday extended a temporary ban on the entry of foreigners for another 30 days, on the recommendation of the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency.

Designed to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, the decision was published in the Government Gazette by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

The ban applies to all foreigners and all forms of entry, whether by land, air or sea.

However, some exceptions can be made in the cases of foreigners traveling for business, sports or some artistic endeavor, or foreigners flying into Brazil to reside there on a work visa for research, teaching, study, investment and other purposes.

Those exceptions still require a medical certificate stating that the bearer is free of COVID-19.