Brazil: State of São Paulo decrees a curfew and closes beaches, schools and churches to relieve hospitals | Society

São Paulo State Governor João Doria on Thursday announced tightening restrictions to stop infections and relieve ICUs this Thursday, the day after Brazil recorded 2,286 deaths, the highest number of the pandemic. From next Monday and for two weeks, there will be a curfew between eight in the afternoon and five in the morning; public schools will suspend classes (open only to distribute food), churches, beaches and parks will close and the local football league will not be played. It is estimated that 4.5 million people will stop circulating in the metropolitan area of ​​São Paulo.

São Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state, is one of those tightening restrictions due to the dramatic increase in cases, which has pushed public and private hospital networks to the limit in virtually the entire country. Governors and mayors are taking different measures to contain the outbreak as the vaccination process slowly progresses.

Fifty-three municipalities, 8% of the total, have 100% of occupied beds, according to the state government. During the press conference in which he announced the measures, Doria showed a video indicating that several public hospitals already have all of their beds occupied. “There are not enough professionals to put more beds,” said the governor, who was reluctant to adopt restrictive measures despite calls from specialists. Now he has said that the steps that have been taken are necessary even if they are undermining his popularity.

The governor has closed the churches, although he recently included them in the list of essential activities of the state. Teleworking will be compulsory for non-essential administrative activities, both for private companies and for public bodies. It is recommended to wear a mask outdoors and also in closed places, even during small gatherings inside the house. It can only be broadcast during curfew when absolutely necessary and crowds are prohibited. Public public schools will only remain open to feed students and distribute materials, always by appointment. Holy Week and the October holidays will also be planned, which will take place from March 15 to 28. “If necessary, we will also bring forward the July holidays,” Education Secretary Rossieli Soares said. It is recommended that private schools also follow these guidelines, although they will be free to decide what to do.

The government has also established timetables for using public transport to avoid crowds. It is suggested that industrial workers use it from 5 to 7 in the morning; service sector workers from 7 to 9; and those who work in commerce from 9 to 11. “We cannot limit ourselves to increasing the number of beds. We are doing it and we are going to increase it even more, but everyone must collaborate and be responsible ”, warned the Secretary of Health, Jean Gorinchteyn. “The situation continued to worsen after the decree of the red phase and more restrictive measures are needed. We do not want to limit life, but to protect it. And science has shown how to do it, ”added Paulo Menezes, coordinator of the Contingency Center.

Hundreds on the waiting list

São Paulo Health Secretary Jean Gorinchteyn pointed out that in the state there is a list of 2,046 people waiting for a bed, there are 9,144 hospitalized covid-19 patients and the average income in the ICU is 150 people per day. The occupancy rate of ICUs in the state is approximately 87.6%. The average daily hospitalizations this week is 2,379 (9.8% more than last week), while the average daily deaths are 12.3% higher than last week: 319. Since the start pandemic, there were 2,164,066 infections and 63,010 deaths from coronavirus in São Paulo. “The speed of the pandemic is much faster, it affects a greater number of people in a short time, several of our hospitals are already in a critical situation. It’s the biggest health crisis of all time, ”Gorinchteyn said.

Ahead of the press conference, Doria expected he would announce more restrictive measures in a video he posted on his social media. “Brazil is collapsing and, if we don’t stop the virus, it will be no different in São Paulo. We will have to adopt more restrictive measures. This is the only way, at the moment, to contain the acceleration of deaths. No leader likes to stop economic activities, ”he said.

Experts from the São Paulo State Contingency Center had been pressuring the governor for weeks to tighten restrictive measures, but it wasn’t until early this month that Doria gave in and put the ‘Entire state in the red phase. In other words, only essential activities such as supermarkets, public transport and pharmacies can function. However, schools, churches and sports centers were open.

The new restrictions mean the end of the São Paulo football championship, known as Paulistão, the country’s largest regional tournament. Since it was replayed on February 27, three games have been played and it is scheduled to end in May. Last year, the contest was cut short on March 16 and only returned more than four months later. As the restrictions will not begin until next Monday, during the weekend, the fourth day of the championship will be played in full.

The Paulista Football Federation and clubs have tried to take the pulse with the Government, arguing that football’s health protocol is safe, but Doria has paid attention to the specialists at the Contingency Center.

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