Governor João Doria (PSDB) is preparing to communicate the end of the mandatory use of mask in open environments throughout the state of São Paulo starting next Wednesday (9). The measure has been in effect since May 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Doria will have to take off her mask, literally, during a press conference, in the garden of Palácio dos Bandeirantes, in the capital, to announce the easing.
Next Tuesday (8), the governor, state secretaries and the Covid-19 Scientific Committee will have a meeting with the expectation to close the entire release process.
At first, the mask can only be taken off on urban roads and open-air environments – such as the outdoor area of bars and restaurants, in addition to parks and squares, for example.
Some impasses, such as the release of the accessory in free areas of schools, subway stations and bus terminals, where there are agglomerations of people, will still be discussed more comprehensively at the Tuesday meeting.
Doria’s plan to end the mandatory use of masks, right after Carnival, had already been anticipated by columnist Mônica Bergamo.
Before the decision is announced, the scientific committee monitors whether there will be curves that indicate a fall or growth of infection by the coronavirus after Carnival.
The easing in São Paulo may occur after drops in the moving averages of deaths, since the end of February, in addition to the high rate of immunized population. This last factor should be explored by Doria, who is the PSDB’s pre-candidate for the elections to the Presidency of the Republic, with the main sponsor for the end of mandatory masks.
Data from the government of São Paulo, updated at 1:00 pm this Friday, indicated that 88.5% of the entire population over five years of age are fully vaccinated.
“At the same time, in parallel [à imunização contra Covid-19], there was a progressive decrease in hospitalizations in the last 30 days. Today, we have a drop of 62% in hospital admissions in the wards and 52% in the ICU, showing that vaccinating was the best choice and it is based on this that the scientific committee for these recovery measures”, said Health Secretary Jean Gorinchteyn during an interview on this fifth (3).
The latest report from the consortium of press vehicles pointed out this Thursday that the average number of deaths is 451 per day, a reduction of 46%. The number of infections is 46,460, down 58%. The information is collected by the consortium of press vehicles —sheetUOL, O Estado de S. Paulo, Extra, O Globo and G1—daily with the state Health Departments.
Doria should opt for flexibility in the wake of what has happened in other states and the Federal District, where it will no longer be required in open places from Monday (7).
In Rio de Janeiro, the decree grants autonomy for each of the 92 municipalities in the state to decide on the end of the obligation, even in closed environments.
In Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, the suspension of use only affects children under 12 years of age.
experts consulted by sheet demonstrate uncertainties regarding the flexibility of the use of masks.
“What worries me is whether we are making the decision using criteria or [motivação] politics. Are all regions of the state of São Paulo in the same situation?”, says virologist Maurício Lacerda Nogueira, professor at the Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto (Famerp). “Back there were well-defined criteria, with the classification of cities in red, green, orange, yellow bands. May it now also be transparent and easy to understand by the population.”
Raquel Stucchi, an infectious disease specialist at Unicamp and a consultant for the SBI (Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases), considers the flexibility to be hasty.
“We know that the protection against the ômicron occurs from the third dose. This number of 88% of the immunized population considers those who completed the regimen with two doses”, says Raquel.
Another alert, says the infectologist, is the unknown regarding the balance of Carnival. “We had four, five days of parties and crowds. The prudent thing would be, at least, to wait the next three weeks to get an idea of the curve of Covid-19.”
“These justifications, for me, are much more valid to please the voter. If we need to go back to wearing masks in May, June, adherence will be terrible, unless it weighs on the person’s pocket”, completes the doctor.
Marcos Antônio Cyrillo, director of SBI, also demonstrates insecurity with the level of adherence to the third dose, which, for him, is no longer considered a booster dose.
Of the 100,464,418 doses applied in São Paulo until this Friday (4), 20,674,698 are additional. The others are 41 million for the first dose, 37 million for the second dose and 1.2 million for a single dose.
“To release, the government must take into account the vaccination of the population, the contagion rate as the United States has done. The government certainly has this work, that’s what we hope”, says the infectologist.
Since May 2020, the use of a mask throughout the state of São Paulo has been mandatory as a way of combating and preventing the new coronavirus. According to the decree, anyone caught without the accessory could face a warning and imprisonment of up to one year, in addition to the payment of a fine.
Finally, the value of the infraction for the citizen in an irregular situation was R$ 552.71 and, for commercial establishments, R$ 5,294.38 for each visitor without protection.
If the establishment does not present a sign, in a visible place, with information about the obligation, there is also a fine of R$ 1,380.50. The supervision of the measure is the responsibility of the municipalities.
Chad-98Weaver, a distinguished author at NewsBulletin247, excels in the craft of article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a penchant for storytelling, Chad delivers informative and engaging content that resonates with readers across various subjects. His contributions are a testament to his dedication and expertise in the field of journalism.
