Mônica Bergamo: SP issues alert for high Covid ICU admissions in the state

The Government of São Paulo recorded a 56% increase in the number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 in Intensive Care Units in the last two weeks, compared to a 50% increase in the rate of hospitalizations in infirmary beds because of the disease.

On Wednesday (4), there were 474 ICU beds occupied. In the infirmary, there were 857.

The Management Council of the Department of Science, Research and Development in Health, which today replaces the scientific committee installed in the state at the beginning of the pandemic, issued an alert about the high of cases. The document reinforces the need to expand vaccination coverage and the use of masks.

The collegiate emphasizes, on the other hand, that the number of people hospitalized because of Covid-19 is still much lower than the numbers observed in previous waves.

“The group of specialists continues to monitor the pandemic permanently and will manifest itself whenever necessary”, says the secretary of the folder, infectious disease specialist David Uip.

The Management Council recommends, among other points, that all adults over 18 years of age receive booster doses of vaccines against the coronavirus and that there is an increase in vaccination coverage among children and adolescents.

According to the agency, there are 10 million adults in São Paulo who have not yet taken the first booster dose of the immunizer, and 7 million who have not received the second booster dose.

The use of a mask in environments that are more favorable to transmission, such as public transport, and by people who are part of risk groups has also been recommended again.

The council also suggests strengthening treatment with antivirals for people infected with the coronavirus who show mild or moderate symptoms, in order to avoid hospitalizations and, eventually, deaths.

as showed the Sheetthe increase in cases of Covid-19 and the news of new subvariants of the virus, with the death of a woman in São Paulo, provoked a rush to health units in São Paulo to take the delay of the booster dose of the vaccine .

The São Paulo Health Department confirmed on Monday night (7) the first two cases of the new subvariant Omicron BQ.1.1 in the capital. A 72-year-old woman, who was bedridden and had comorbidity, died of the strain, according to the folder.

Underlining is associated with the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in Europe and the United States. In Brazil, the first occurrences were confirmed in Amazonas, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul.

_{with BIANKA VIEIRA, KARINA MATIAS and MANOELLA SMITH}