Rio City Hall suggests that the elderly and people with comorbidities wear a mask again

The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes (PSD), recommended that the elderly, students and people with comorbidities or flu symptoms return to wearing a mask to avoid contamination by the coronavirus. He ruled out resuming mandatory protection in open and closed environments.

The statement was made this Thursday afternoon (2), during a meeting at the City Hall Operations Center, with Paes and the superintendent of health surveillance, Márcio Garcia, and the municipal secretary of Health, Rodrigo Prado.

Since March 7, the use of a mask on the subway, buses and indoors in the city of Rio has become optional. In the state, it is no longer mandatory to have protection five days before.

The city hall also announced the “D-Day” campaign of vaccination against Covid-19 and other flu syndromes, on Saturday (4), at more than 450 vaccination points in all regions of Rio.

Paes said that, despite the superficial perception that cases are increasing among friends, family and acquaintances among the population, care in health units remains stable and cases of flu syndrome are mild and are under control:

“In recent weeks, we have noticed an increase in cases in our surroundings. In recent months, we have had a window of flu syndromes, which represent most of the contagion. However, according to testing data, health units, pharmacy and health posts, there is no increase in the number of cases of Covid-19. Therefore, we believe that there is no need to change the restrictive measures”, said the mayor.

Paes, however, warned that people who have comorbidities or have symptoms of the disease, such as runny nose, headaches, chest pain and inflammation, use the mask and take the test.

The mayor said he was still waiting for the state government to release the second booster dose for citizens over the age of 50:

“We did a great booster dose campaign for those over 60 years old, more than 51% were vaccinated, so we are in another moment of the pandemic, a milder moment of contamination, and all this because of the vaccine. authorization to release more doses”, concluded Paes.

The superintendent of health surveillance, Márcio Garcia, informed that, as of Monday (6), the flu vaccine will be available to the entire population from six months of age at vaccination posts, regardless of cases of comorbidities or priority groups.

The prefecture will also make measles vaccines available to the population aged six months to five years, even if the vaccination card is complete.

Garcia also recommended vaccination against Covid-19 for children aged five years and over, first booster shot for teenagers from 12 years old and second booster shot for people over 60. Flu and Covid vaccines can be taken at the same day. To get vaccinated, all you need to do is bring your vaccination booklet and a photo ID.

According to the prefecture, there was no increase in the number of hospitalizations in the month of May. In total, 51.1% of the population of Rio de Janeiro has a complete vaccination schedule above three doses, and 46% with four doses (second booster). The mortality rate of the virus in 2022 is 26.3 per 100,000 inhabitants; 2020 was 284.2.

Despite the high rate of adherence to the vaccination campaign, Paes drew attention to individual protection measures and recommended that the population complete the picture using masks in case of symptoms.

According to the city, there are 1 million vaccines available. The neighborhoods with the highest incidence are Gávea, Barra da Tijuca and Complexo do Alemão, in Vila da Penha. The health units in these areas will receive new testing centers to meet the demand for cases.

According to Garcia, an increase in flu syndrome is expected in this period, whether from cases of covid-19 or other types of flu. In the last 90 days, according to Garcia, the absolute majority is flu-like.

“It does not reach 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Currently, there are 69 cases of hospitalization for Covid distributed in health units of the prefecture, state and federal hospitals”, says the superintendent.

Officially, the use of masks has become optional since March 3 in Rio, due to the high vaccination coverage and the presence of low-risk municipalities.

The rule in Rio is contrary to the decision of the City of São Paulo, which this Wednesday (1st), heeded the recommendation of the state government and suggested that the population return to using masks in closed environments.

According to Mônica Bergamo’s column, Fiocruz (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz), one of the most important research institutions in the country, decided to resume the mandatory use of masks in its facilities.