Brazil São Paulo lifts minimum distancing in schools, cinemas and theaters

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With the decision, all seats and chairs in these spaces may be occupied. However, the municipal administration recommends that proof of vaccination against Covid-19, with at least one dose, be requested. This requirement is mandatory for events gathering over 500 people.

The spacing requirement will also be waived for schools, effective October 25. However, Mayor Nunes pointed out that studies supporting the exemption of distancing show that mask use is still necessary, even outdoors.

This decision will only be reviewed after November 10, the Mayor said. “We will present a new study, because by November 10 to 15, we will have 100% of the population with the full vaccination cycle,” the Mayor stressed.

The city government tracked and monitored 2,300 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and observed the transmissibility of the disease from the contacts of these people. Based on the contagion rate, measures against the spread of the virus, such as mask use, were recommended.

VACCINATION

The Mayor compared the immunization data against the novel coronavirus in the city of São Paulo and other large capitals, such as New York, London, and Berlin. Currently, 78.8% of the population over 12 years of age and 86.1% of adults (over 18) have been given the two doses or the single dose of vaccines against the disease, according to Nunes. “We are, by far, the capital that has vaccinated the most in the world,” he said.

RETURN TO SCHOOL

With the end of the distancing requirement, schools will resume normal operations, with students attending classes daily. “There will no longer be any rotation in municipal schools. All students may attend classes daily,” said Municipal Secretary of Education Fernando Padula.

However, families may choose not to send their children to school. To this end, they must sign an acknowledgement of responsibility, undertake to pick up all printed materials at school, and see that students watch the videos provided by the Education Secretariat.

INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS

The Municipal Health Surveillance’s epidemiological center coordinator Paula Bisordi said that since classes started again in April, schools have experienced several outbreaks of influenza respiratory syndrome. In the whole city, there were 2,074 cases, 80% in school facilities. Of all outbreaks, 70% were confirmed as caused by Covid-19.

In schools, outbreaks caused 13,200 cases of illness, over 60% in adults between 20 and 69 years old. Children between the ages of 1 and 4 accounted for 21.3% of cases. Bisordi said that currently, the situation in schools regarding Covid-19 transmission is under control. “We do not see a growing trend of outbreaks in school facilities,” she said.