Covid-19 in Brazil: Ceará decrees 10-day statewide curfew from Thursday

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Governor Camilo Santana announced a statewide curfew starting this Thursday, February 18th, between 10 PM and 5 AM, with the exception of professionals working in essential services. The measure will be in effect until February 28th, with the aim of curbing the surge of Covid-19 in Ceará.

• Suspension of on-site activities in public and private schools and universities (as of Friday);
• Trade will remain in operation until 8 PM from Monday to Friday;
• Ban on any parties or commemorative events, in open or closed environments, public or private, whatever the initiative;
• Only essential services may operate after 8 PM;
• Restaurants may only operate until 3 PM on Saturdays and Sundays;
• On Saturdays and Sundays, all trade, including shopping malls, may only operate until 5 PM;
• Public spaces in Ceará, such as squares, beaches, boardwalks, and soccer fields must close daily at 5 PM;
• All public services (state and municipal) will be remote, except for essential activities;
• Health barriers will continue in Fortaleza (and there will be a recommendation for cities in the interior on Thursday); and
• Inter-municipal transport operating with reinforced inspection.

The governor also commented on the rise in Covid-19 numbers in the state when compared to the month of September 2020 (when there was a drop in the curve).

Regarding ICU beds, Camilo Santana mentioned that:

• On September 19th, the state had 49 people in ICU beds;
• On January 18th this year, the number grew to 226 people in the ICU;
• Finally, on February 17th, Ceará had 652 people in the ICU because of Covid-19.

With respect to people in ward beds, Santana said that there were 470 people on September 19th; 558 people on January 15th; and 1026 people on February 17th.

The governor also presented data Emergency Care Facilities (UPAS). These facilities registered: 3,628 people with suspected Covid in September; 12,509 people in January; and 10,909 in February.

Earlier on Wednesday, Santana announced also on social media that he was taking part in a meeting to decide the new measures.

“We are assessing the pandemic situation in the state to announce measures that will be included in the next state decree, which will be in effect as of tomorrow. Until the vaccine reaches everyone, prevention is the only way to stop this rapid increase in cases,” announced Camilo.

“We’ve already had a meeting this morning with our scientific committee, and we’ll have another one soon,” added the governor.

Santana also commented on the meeting he had with Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello and other governors. “The Ministry reported that another 10 million doses should be sent to the states this month, with 8 million from Sinovac/Butantan and 2 million from AstraZenec/Fiocruz. Furthermore, the schedule provides for about 210 million doses in the first half of this year. This is critical to curb the increase in cases,” added the governor of Ceará.

The number of deaths from Covid-19 has increased again in Ceará since December 2020, and accelerated in January this year. Cases of the disease have also increased and the majority of ICU beds are taken up with Covid-19 patients.

Fortaleza has a stock of about 10,000 vaccine doses. The amount is not enough to immunize people in the vaccination plan’s first priority phase.

The decree that came into effect in Ceará state at 11:59 PM on Wednesday includes roadblocks limiting the entry and exit of vehicles in Fortaleza. Only people who are traveling for health reasons or live or work in another city are allowed on the roads. This measure should remain in place.

The decree also determines that beach bars may only operate until 3 PM. Non-essential trade, such as restaurants, may operate until 8 PM from Monday to Friday, and until 3 PM over weekends.

Source: G1