Vucruz considers it premature to release masks

Published on 11/03/2022 19:07

(Credit: Mauro Pimentel/AFP)

Amid relaxation of preventive measures against COVID-19, such as Exemption from the use of masks in open and even closed spaces In some states and cities, researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Viocruz), Friday (11/3), expressed their disagreement with the easing of these measures, in the Bulletin of the Covid-19 Observatory. According to the document, early relaxation “means letting go of the story of so many lives lost.” In Brazil, so far, 654,556 people have died from Covid-19.

“An early relaxation of preventive measures, as well as a lack of investment in the population’s motivation around vaccination, means abandoning the story of many lives lost,” the document noted.

So the researchers suggest that the ideal is to return to the pattern of the beginning of the pandemic when it was Masks are highly recommendedHand hygiene and avoid lumps.

“We recommend, as we move towards optimal levels of vaccination coverage, physical distancing measures, and maintaining the use of masks and hand hygiene even in open environments where greater concentration and agglomeration of people can occur,” the experts suggested.

To justify the recommendation, the researchers cited a recent study concluding that the use of face masks should continue for two to 10 weeks after 70 to 90% vaccination coverage of the target population has been reached.

Due to the advent of the ômicron variant and greater strain transmission capacity, continued use of the mask becomes even more important. “Vaccination alone is not sufficient to control the epidemic and prevent death and suffering, it is necessary to maintain a set of common measures until the appropriate level of vaccination coverage for the target population is reached,” the publication added.

future

Data on COVID-19 ICU bed occupancy rates for adults in the SUS confirm the trend of improvement in the indicator seen in previous weeks. The only state remaining in the alert zone was Santa Catarina, which on March 8 had an occupancy rate of 79%.

Vucruz also stresses that the coming weeks will be crucial to understanding the course of COVID-19 in the country. The bulletin indicated that “it is still not possible to assess the impact of the recent parties and trips during the carnival period, nor the easing of the use of masks and the holding of events that promote the mass agglomeration that occurred in some Brazilian cities.” Outside.