A surge in Covid cases makes Rio de Janeiro reopen beds

The increase in Covid cases driven by the ômicron variant forced the City of Rio de Janeiro to open new beds to receive patients. The Municipal Health Department says that it should put about 30 beds into operation daily to treat patients with coronavirus at Ronaldo Gazolla Municipal Hospital, a unit in the north of Rio de Janeiro that was a reference in the treatment of the disease.

In November, with the drop in epidemiological indicators, the hospital managed to bring the number of hospitalizations to zero and closed the sector dedicated to Covid.

However, with the increase in cases, the city government says that this Tuesday (11) it reopened 50 beds in the hospital and that it asked the state and the federal government to resume more vacancies in Rio.

With the advancement of the ômicron variant, a strain that is already dominant in the city, the capital of Rio de Janeiro observes the worsening of its epidemiological indicators. Although the number of deaths is at a low level, hospitalizations have increased in recent weeks.

At Christmas, there were 12 people hospitalized in the public network, a number that jumped to 197 this Wednesday afternoon (12). According to the Municipal Health Department, most of those hospitalized did not complete the vaccination schedule.

In addition, half of the tests carried out in the city were positive for the disease this week, a rate that has not been recorded since 2020.

Due to the increase in cases, Mayor Eduardo Paes (PSD) was forced to cancel the street Carnival and is now advised to also cancel the event at private balls and at Marquês de Sapucaí.

Experts consider it risky and premature to keep the celebration amid the surge in cases. According to them, the samba school parades have great potential to generate crowds and increase the transmission of the virus.

On Friday (7), part of the state scientific committee advised against events that generate crowds, including the Sapucaí Carnival. Hours later, the state government released a statement saying that, for the moment, the parades were maintained.

“It is not possible to decide on an event that will happen in two months in light of the momentary epidemiological scenario. New meetings should take place to support the decision of the SES (Secretary of State for Health)”, said the management.

As in Rio, hospitalizations for Covid in São Paulo are also growing due to the ômicron variant.

The João Doria government (PSDB) announced, this Wednesday (12), that it will recommend to municipalities a 30% reduction in crowded events.

However, the decision will be made by the city halls — with the exception of sporting events, such as the Paulista Football Championship, in which the reduction of the public is a determination.