USP, Unesp and Unicamp keep masks even in the open

State universities in São Paulo decided to continue to ask for the use of a mask inside their campuses even after the decree of Governor João Doria (PSDB) that ended the mandatory use of the accessory in open environments.

The use of the mask is compulsory at USP (University of São Paulo) and Unicamp (State University of Campinas) in any environment and “highly recommended” at Unesp (Universidade Estadual de São Paulo), according to a note from the institution.

Another item in common in the protocols is the requirement of proof of immunization with a complete vaccination schedule for admission to any university facility. The measure is valid not only for students, professors and staff, but also for all visitors who circulate through the university facilities.

Students without proof could not even complete the enrollment process at USP, for example, as the document was required in the second stage of the process.

In a statement, the university states that, “despite the euphoric climate with the return in person and the moment when all the negative indicators of the pandemic (new cases, deaths and hospitalizations) are falling, the care to avoid the transmission of the coronavirus is still need to be taken.”

“Although the government has released the non-use of the mask in open spaces, USP decided to maintain its use in all university environments”, says the text.

Unesp, also in a note, highlights that “the mandatory presentation of the vaccination passport, which is indispensable for all audiences, and the use of a face protection mask, which is highly recommended, remain in force at the university”.

“In particular with regard to the use of a mask, after the São Paulo state government released such use in open places on the 9th, the university maintains the position that all people should continue to wear a mask on campuses and in all 34 university units, regardless of of being in a closed or open environment”, completes the university.

Unicamp also did not change the rules prior to Doria’s decree, that is, it continues to require a mask in open and closed places.

At Unesp, face-to-face activities officially started on the 7th at its 24 campuses throughout the state. Each unit has the autonomy to draw up its academic calendar. The institution has approximately 40,000 undergraduate students and another 14,000 graduate students.

At USP, classes begin this Monday (14) with the presence of more than 110,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

In a video with a welcome message, the dean of USP, Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, says that at the moment the university must be an example for society with regard to measures that help to fight and prevent the coronavirus.

“I would like to highlight the vaccines, we hope that our entire community is vaccinated so that we can be safe in our activities. Another care, which we strongly recommend, is the use of a mask. They must cover the nose, mouth, even the chin to so we can be safe. We can’t use a mask inappropriately. Finally, avoid agglomeration “, says Carlotti Junior.

The university prepared reception actions for freshmen in order to promote integration between new and veteran students. But it promises to supervise the use of the mask in all its facilities.

As at USP, the academic year at Unicamp will begin this Monday. The university says that students will receive guidance on care to contain Covid-19, such as social distancing and constant use of masks in all spaces.

Unicamp organized a series of events for its Calourada 2022 program, under the title “Autonomy in defense of science, science in defense of life”. There will be book deliveries, lunch and even indoor soccer matches between HC Unicamp health professionals and students and employees who have already had Covid-19, in addition to debates on the pandemic and other topics.

The intention, according to Sávio Cavalcante, professor at the Institute of Philosophy and Human Sciences and coordinator of Calourada 2022, is to present the importance of science and public universities in the fight against the pandemic, disinformation, and also in the defense of life, the environment and the environment. of human rights.

In addition to making the use of masks in open environments more flexible, Doria said on Friday (11) that the state should end the mandatory use of masks even in closed environments on the 23rd of this month.

“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, in a speech in Catanduva (385 km from São Paulo).

THE sheet found that the trend is for universities to continue with the understanding that it will only be possible to definitively abandon the mask with the end of the pandemic to be confirmed by the WHO (World Health Organization).

Just over two years ago, on March 11, 2020, Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the WHO, elevated the stage of contamination by the coronavirus to a pandemic. Two months later, in May of that year, the use of a mask became a mandatory item in São Paulo, under penalty of fines and even imprisonment.

From July 2020, when the period of adaptation to the norm ended, to February of this year, the State Health Surveillance recorded 10,742 infractions.

Currently, anyone who fails to comply with the rule, failing to use it in closed places such as classrooms, subway stations and public transport, for example, can be fined – the foreseen fine is R$ 552.71.