Doria says he will end mandatory mask use in SP in 11 days

The state of São Paulo is moving to end the mandatory use of a mask also in closed environments on the 22nd of this month. The deadline was announced by Governor João Doria (PSDB) this Friday (11) during a speech in the city of Catanduva, located 385 kilometers from the capital of São Paulo.

Since Wednesday (9), the use of a mask is no longer mandatory only in open spaces. In places such as streets, squares, parks, football stadiums, commercial establishments and on school courts and patios.

It is still needed, however, indoors, for example, in public transport, subway and train stations, classrooms and cinemas.

“In 11 days from today [sexta, 11]. If everything continues to go well and following the protocols of science, of our scientific committee. And if we continue to have a drop in hospitalizations and the use of ICU beds, a drop in deaths and an increase in vaccination in children and adults, as of Wednesday of the other week [23 de março]we will no longer have to wear masks,” said Doria.

“And we will do it with a calm soul, in the step by step that medicine, health, doctors have indicated to us, guided us”, he added.

Doria has already told her interlocutors that she intends to end the use of the mask permanently before leaving the government of São Paulo, which will take place on March 31, to dedicate herself to the presidential election in October. Vice Rodrigo Garcia will assume the position.

On Wednesday, in announcing the end of the state’s requirement for face protection in outdoor places, Doria had already said that the review of the rule for indoor places should take place within two weeks.

The measure has been debated almost daily between governors and the state’s Scientific Committee. The night before the speech, the toucan led a meeting attended by the state health secretary, Jean Gorinchteyn, the president of the Butantan Institute, Dimas Covas; the executive coordinator of the Scientific Committee, João Gabbardo, and the general coordinator of the State Immunization Program, Regiane de Paula.

According to the government’s Vacinometer, until the afternoon of this Friday, 89.65% of the entire population over five years old had the complete vaccination schedule.

In her speech, after remembering her childhood with an emotional tone, Doria made the immunization campaign her calling card. In the speech, he attributed the flexibility of wearing a mask to the commitment of his management in the acquisition of Coronavac.

“Those who defended the vaccine to offer protection weren’t insane. The government and the governor of São Paulo didn’t make a mistake in buying the vaccine in China, because China had vaccines while other countries didn’t. And we bought it, it was half a billion dollars, regardless of whether the Ministry of Health would pocket us,” said Doria.

In his speech, Doria also attacked President Jair Bolsonaro (PL). The governor did not directly name the political opponent, but recalled the federal government’s handling of the pandemic.

“Those who accused me, who said: ‘Those tight pants don’t understand anything. Go buy the vaccine in China, Vachina’. They said: ‘Whoever gets the vaccine will turn into an alligator, long live chloroquine and no vaccine’. That’s 110 million of Brazilians who took the vaccine in the arm and are doing well, including me”, said the toucan.