Half of São Paulo’s Cities Have Not Recorded Covid-19 Deaths in 14 Days

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Data released on Wednesday, September 9th, by the São Paulo State Health Secretariat continue to show the downward trend of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state of São Paulo.

According to João Gabbardo dos Reis, executive coordinator of the Contingency Center, 321 of the 645 São Paulo municipalities have not registered deaths from the disease in the past 14 days. Considering the past seven days, the number rises: 422 municipalities had no deaths from the novel coronavirus.

“In the past four weeks, we are heading for the fifth, we averaged 151 daily deaths in the past seven days, but let’s wait for the data for Thursday and Friday, because there may be some compensatory correction due to the holiday,” he said. “In 14 days, 50 percent of municipalities have not reported deaths. In the past seven days, two-thirds of all cities have not reported deaths. These are very positive indicators,” he said.

On Wednesday, the state also recorded the lowest ICU bed occupancy rate for the disease, 53.1 percent. In Greater São Paulo, this index stands at 52,6 percent.

There are 4,525 patients hospitalized with suspected or confirmed disease in these beds. A further 6,059 are in infirmary beds. Still according to the balance, 717,423 people have recovered from the disease. “These are positive indicators that show that the pandemic in São Paulo is receding. But this does not mean a relaxation in quarantine,” said Governor João Doria.

On Wednesday, the state of São Paulo recorded 866,576 confirmed cases and 31,821 Covid-19 deaths. In 24 hours, 391 deaths and 7,793 new cases were recorded.

Crowds over the holiday

When asked about the crowding in the state, particularly on the coast, both the state Health Secretary, Jean Gorinchteyn, and members of the Contigency Center, said that the impacts will be felt in two weeks.

And they said that “it may not be so high”, opposing statements that showed concern in the preceding week and that prompted a reinforcement in inspection with the support of the State Police in several municipalities.

“This [weekend flow] may result in a lower decrease in cases until the effects of these crowd events are overcome. But I don’t think it will have a big impact. They exist, but they shouldn’t cause any disaster,” said José Osmar Medina, head of the Contingency Center.

“We didn’t have time to check the impact of what occurred over the holiday. We can’t help but think that the beach is an open-air environment, in which there is a lower probability of transmission than in closed environments. And people who go to the beach are younger, healthier, and despite the risk of transmission, they are not likely to experience severe cases. We are in another phase of the epidemic,” said Gabbardo.

Doria, on the other hand, was more cautious and stated that the pandemic is still ongoing and that this is not the time for gatherings. “People need to be aware of this. We have no reason to encourage crowds, parties, or gatherings,” he said.

On September 7th, the state government conducted actions together with the Health Surveillance. According to the report, 2,170 inspections were carried out, with 79 infractions, the majority (64) concentrated in the coastal areas of the state.

Source: Estadão Conteúdo