Covid-19: Mask could be mandatory again in SP if hospitalizations increase, says secretary

In an interview with Rádio Eldorado, Jean Gorinchteyn says that the measure, which will be discussed on Monday, can be adopted in closed places, such as public transport.

Among the increase in cases of COVID-19OR Undersecretary of State for Health of São Paulo, Jean Gorinchteyn, said this Friday 11, that the use of the mask in closed places could be mandatory again in the state, if the next epidemiological bulletin shows that hospitalizations, especially in intensive care, are gradually increasing. The provision will be discussed next Monday, 14, in a meeting with the committee of the Secretariat of Science and Health Development.

At this time, the secretary said in an interview with Radio El Dorado, there is already a recommendation that people use masks again indoors, such as in public transport and crowded places, especially the elderly and immunosuppressed. “We are monitoring the situation and if it becomes more serious, we can reactivate the mandatory masks,” says Gorinchteyn.

Gorinchteyn said that, from Oct. 25 through Sunday, the 6th, there was an approximately 64 percent increase in intensive care unit (ICU) bed occupancy in the state — from 290 cases to 450, in approximate number. In the wards the increase was 50%, going from about 550 to 830 inpatients.

“When we look at these percentages, they stand out, but in any case they are much lower than at the beginning of the year, when we had almost 4,700 hospitalizations, and at the height of the second wave, when we reached 13,500, it shows how protective the vaccine is”. said the secretary.

The clinical pictures of the patients, he said, were different. Most of those who go to intensive care today do not exceed 72 hours of hospitalization. “These are people who already have health problems and, when they get sick with covid-19, they are hospitalized as a precaution,” she says. “Even so, we have to be vigilant and vigilant.”

hole in vaccination

One of the major points of concern at the moment in relation to the management of covid-19 is the lack of adherence to booster doses vaccine🇧🇷 In the State of São Paulo, according to him, about 10 million people have not taken the second dose and 7 million have not had the third.

While the vaccine does not prevent a person from contracting the coronavirus, it does protect against more severe cases. Today, most of the most debilitated patients from the disease belong to the group that does not have a complete vaccination schedule. And it is not for lack of a vaccine that people do not attend health facilities, the secretary guarantees.

“We have available in our state health units the quantities of doses necessary to immunize the population with all the necessary booster doses,” he says. Therefore, the main guideline right now is for people to attend health centers and update their vaccination card.

attention to children

The secretary recommended parents of children aged 6 months to 3 years – who are not yet protected by the covid-19 vaccine – to avoid crowded places with their children at the moment. Additionally, they should be removed from daycare or school if they have symptoms of respiratory illness, such as a runny nose and cough, to prevent the spread of viruses in this age group.

Children are more susceptible to respiratory infections and, currently, the three main viruses causing hospitalizations in this age group in São Paulo are:

– the flu virus;

– the covid-19 virus;

-respiratory syncytial virus, which causes bronchiolitis.

Almost two months ago, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine to protect children of this age group from the coronavirus. However, only recently has the Ministry of Health started sending immunizers to municipalities. San Paolo is still waiting for the doses to arrive.

The secretary reiterated that it is important to have immunization for everyone and recalled that although cases of the disease are generally less serious in minors, we have already had 3,000 children and adolescents die of covid-19 in the country.

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Source: Terra

Benjamin

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