Where to use the protection even after dilution
5 min read
As state and metropolitan governments move to make mandatory use of masks against COVID-19 more flexible, scientists are pointing to the risks to the most vulnerable — such as the elderly and unvaccinated children — and in places with high levels of pollution, such as public transportation.
Rio de Janeiro It was the first capital to abolish mandatory masks In closed places, by a decision announced on Monday (7). Today, The Sao Paulo government should stop requiring the use of protection in open spaces -at most Five states and the Federal District procedure adopted, As well as the municipality of Macapa.
Scientists have heard UOL Ask questions about the conditions under which masks are still recommended even as the rules are relaxed.
The triggering of protection factor use in the covid-19 case-and-death scenario (see below for the evolution of numbers), occurs after the peak caused by the omicron variant of the virus. Corona Virus In December and January.
Despite this, infectious disease specialist Joan Arc Gonçalves, a professor at UniCEUB (Centro Universitário de Brasília), says she considers Rio’s decision to end the mandatory use of masks in enclosed spaces premature.
“I think we’ll have to wait a little longer to confirm the results of the third dose. Few people in Brazil got a booster dose which is contraindicated against the new variants,” he points out.
Should masks be worn on public transportation and schools?
For health experts, indoor spaces present a greater risk of contamination with covid-19, because transmission of the virus occurs mainly through particles suspended in the air after they have been expelled by infected people.
In open, uncrowded areas, the risk is considered minimal, according to scientists.
Since October — when Rio released people without masks into open areas — epidemic numbers have fallen through mid-December. In the last month of the year, the arrival of omicron in the country and Christmas and New Year’s led to an explosion of cases in the city.
Gulnar Azevedo, professor of epidemiology at Rio de Janeiro State University (Uerj), cites public transportation, hospitals and schools as high-risk environments for contamination.
The doctor points out that vaccination rates in children are still low and that there are people weakened by other diseases in health units.
On buses, trains and subways, there will be a large gathering of people very close by without adequate ventilation. Regardless, it is not known if these places have people with comorbidity, immunodeficiency or the elderly, who lose the protection offered by vaccines faster.”
Gulnar Azevedo, Professor of Epidemiology at URG
In these cases, the doctor says it is essential that people continue to wear good quality masks, even if they are no longer mandatory.
March 8, 2022 – Passengers fill up a BRT car in Madurera, north of Rio
Photo: WILTON JUNIOR / ESTADÃO CONTEDO
Gulnar cites children’s vulnerability to disease due to the lack of adequate vaccination coverage among the 5- to 11-year-old population.
“In schools, there will be children without a full vaccination. A third of them have not been vaccinated, only 9.5% have been vaccinated with two doses. These children are vulnerable and are an at-risk group at this time,” says the expert.
Why shouldn’t the elderly cancel the use of masks?
Experts warn that the elderly, immunocompromised people or people with severe comorbidities should continue to wear masks outdoors and indoors.
At the end of January, an epidemiological bulletin from the SMS (Rio de Janeiro Municipal Health Administration) showed the danger faced by the elderly.
Even among those vaccinated with the booster dose, the death rate was 2.9 people per 100,000 between December and January in Rio. The rate is higher than the mortality rate for people aged 12-59 years who have not been vaccinated or have an incomplete vaccination course (1.8 deaths per 100,000 population).
In January, 63.3% of deaths from COVID-19 in Brazil were elderly people aged 70 or older, the highest monthly rate since March 2020 (the beginning of the pandemic), according to data from civil registry offices.
“In a short time, we will all be more vulnerable due to reduced antibodies,” says Joanna Dark Gonçalves, an infectious disease specialist. “And certainly weakened immunity, older people and people who are seriously ill are more vulnerable to infection.”
What do you do if flu symptoms appear?
The scientist also points out that people with flu symptoms should wear a mask in all environments, to reduce the risk of transmission of the Covid-19 virus and other respiratory diseases.
If a person shows any symptoms, even if they relate to social conscience, he should wear a mask so as not to infect others. Although we have a social behavior that the epidemic is over, it is not over yet.”
joanna your house Gonçalves, infectious disease specialist
Epidemic numbers in South Sudan, Rio and Brazil
In Brazil, after the peak of infections caused by omicron, The 11-day moving average of deaths is down. And on Monday (7), the decline was 48% compared to the previous two weeks.
Rio de Janeiro – the first capital to abolish the use of indoor masks – recorded no deaths from the disease in the last epidemic week (between February 27 and March 5), according to SMS data. And in the previous week, four deaths were recorded, the lowest number since the beginning of the pandemic.
Also, no cases of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) were recorded in the capital, Rio de Janeiro, in the last epidemic week, according to SMS.
Vaccination has been developed in almost all age groups in the city of Rio. Among adults, 99.7% of the population took both doses or dose Vaccine only. The dose The boost was applied to 54.5% of the audience. Also looking at children and adolescents from 5 years old, the first place was occupied by 97.4% of the target audience dose of the vaccine, while 89.3% took two or one doses.
Among children ages 5 to 11, 32.8% have not received anything yet dose Vaccine.
In São Paulo, the trend of epidemic numbers is also declining
The state’s daily death rate was 109 on Monday — down 62.2% from February 9, the peak of the omicron variable wave, with an average of 288 deaths.
A similar trend is observed in the moving average of cases in São Paulo. On March 7, the index fell to 6,401 records from 16,473 on February 9, down 61.1%.
In São Paulo, the vaccination of children has seen further progress. Platform Vaccine now, from the government of São Paulo, indicates that 70.3% of children received a dose, while the ideal would be 80%. Children vaccinated with two doses equaled 19.2% of the total.
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