Covid 4th wave: how to protect yourself in the face of increased cases in Brazil

Covid-19 cases are on the rise again in Brazil. According to information from the National Council of Health Secretaries (Conass), the country currently has a moving average of 31,000 new cases per day. Just over a month ago, at the end of April, that rate was at 12,000.

The coronavirus also seems to be behind most hospitalizations for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Brazilian hospitals: according to the InfoGripe Bulletin, from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Covid-19 is already the reason for 59.6% of hospitalizations by infections in the airways recorded in recent weeks.

Among the reasons that help explain this new worsening, we highlight the abandonment of practically all preventive measures, such as the use of masks in closed places, the arrival of colder weather, insufficient vaccination coverage and a possible drop in immunity after many months of dosing.

But is it possible to protect yourself and minimize individual and collective damage in this new wave of the pandemic? There are at least five measures that reduce the risk of infection, of developing severe forms of the disease or at least preventing the transmission of the virus to others. They include up-to-date vaccinations and the use of masks in certain situations, among others. Check out:

1. Vaccination up to date

The vaccine against Covid-19 does not prevent infection by the coronavirus, even more so with the circulation of new variants, such as the ômicron and its derivatives. But it is a consensus among experts in the field that doses of the immunizing agent are essential to reduce the severity of the condition.

In other words: having the vaccination schedule up to date may not even prevent you from getting the virus, but most of the time it makes the infection milder, without the need to go to hospital or the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and machines for the oxygenation of the organism.

Real-life data show how vaccination was essential to reduce the rate of hospitalizations and deaths since the beginning of the pandemic: the daily moving average of deaths in the country reached 3,000 in April 2021. With the advancement of the immunization campaign, this This number has been decreasing little by little — currently, that rate is at 109, a value 27 times lower.

The number of recommended doses varies according to each age group or health condition. These recommendations, by the way, are constantly updated by health authorities, as new scientific evidence emerges on the best way to keep protection up to date in each group.

Currently, the Ministry of Health recommends:

• Elderly people over 60 years old: initial regimen with two doses + booster dose four months after completing the initial regimen + second booster dose four months after the first booster dose;
• Adults between 18 and 59 years: initial regimen with two doses + booster dose four months after completing the initial regimen;
• Adolescents between 12 and 17 years: initial regimen with two doses + booster dose four months after completing the initial regimen;
• Children aged 5 to 11 years: two-dose regimen.

It is also important to pay attention to the specific calendar where you live, as variations may occur. When in doubt, look for the nearest vaccination post to your home to receive personalized guidance.

Vaccination coverage against Covid-19 is even below what is desired in many parts of Brazil. Nine states (Roraima, Amapá, Acre, Tocantins, Maranhão, Amazonas, Rondônia, Alagoas and Mato Grosso) have not yet reached 70% of the population with the initial two-dose regimen.

To complete, only four states (São Paulo, Piauí, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul) have more than 50% of the population with the first booster dose in the arm. The data was compiled by the Coronavirus Brazil project.

2. Wear masks indoors

Throughout the first half of 2022, municipalities, states and the Federal Government itself promoted a series of changes in the regulations that were created throughout the pandemic to contain the numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths from Covid.

The main symbol of this was the release of masks, which are no longer mandatory in most places, including in closed establishments or where there is agglomeration.

At the time, the decision was heavily criticized by experts. Many believed that the momentary improvement in the numbers of the pandemic was not enough to relax once and for all – and especially to abolish the use of masks in closed places or with little air circulation, contexts that make the transmission of the coronavirus much easier.

With the worsening in the number of cases, the trend is for masks to be recommended again by the authorities. At the end of May, for example, the Government of São Paulo again suggested the use of this protective equipment in schools and in closed places.

The ideal, therefore, is to wear a mask if you are going to a place where you will have close and prolonged contact with other individuals in places with poor ventilation, such as stores, malls, offices, public transport…

If possible, give preference to professional models, such as the PFF2 and N95, and make sure that the piece fits well and seals all air inlets and outlets on the cheeks, chin and cheekbone.

3. Pay attention to symptoms

In a scenario with high transmission, the risk of having contact with the coronavirus increases. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the typical signs of Covid-19. The most common are:

• fever or chills
• Cough
• difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Body ache
• Headache
• Loss of smell and taste
• Sore throat
• Stuffy nose
• Nausea
• vomit
• Diarrhea

If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, the first step is to limit contact with others as much as possible to lower your risk of passing the virus on.

Then, it is worth looking for the diagnosis, which we will talk about in the next topic.

4. Take the test

As you can see in the list above, the symptoms of Covid are very confused with the typical annoyances of other diseases, such as the flu and the cold.

To be sure that the agent causing the painting is really the coronavirus, it is worth taking an exam. Nowadays, it is possible to find rapid antigen tests in pharmacies, which can be done at home.

Another option is the clinical analysis laboratories, which offer not only the antigen test, but also the RT-PCR, a method that brings even more reliable results.

In this context, it is always worth seeking the guidance of a health professional, who helps to interpret the results and gives the most appropriate treatment guidelines according to each case.

5. Proceed in isolation if necessary

If the test is negative and the symptoms still persist, it is worth staying in isolation for a while longer until you feel better – you may have a cold or flu and there is a risk of transmitting these viruses to close contacts.

If the result is positive, it is important to stay at home and avoid contact with others at school, work and social occasions for at least five days or a week.

If in the meantime the symptoms of Covid get worse, look for the hospital. If they improve, try repeating the test (if possible) and see if there has been any change in the result.

Care and distancing should be even greater if you have contact with individuals who are at high risk of developing severe forms of Covid, such as the elderly or patients with compromised immune systems.

This self-isolation prevents the creation of new chains of transmission of the coronavirus in the community – which, ultimately, can represent a relief for the Covid situation in your region or even the entire country.