São Paulo Covid-19 Figures Improve, Secretary Sees “Light at End of Tunnel”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The São Paulo state government submitted new data on Covid-19 that show an improvement in the pandemic situation. On Friday, August 14th, the ICU bed occupancy rate fell below the general average of 57.8 percent, while all regions were below 80 percent, the lowest rates since the business reopening began. The lethality rate stands at 3.9 percent, the lowest so far. “We are now in the period of inflection and we have left the plateau,” said the Secretary of Health, Jean Gorinchteyn.

The plateau occurs when, usually following a peak, the infection numbers stabilize and remain unchanged for a period of time. According to Gorinchteyn, the development of data still needs to be monitored, but the figures recorded thus far point to a positive change for the state. “We are still monitoring and it is early to say, but there is a great chance we will see the light at the end of the tunnel in the coming weeks.”

Mayor Bruno Covas participated in the press conference and noted that the capital city of São Paulo has now recorded ten weeks of a decrease in deaths and has had less than 50 percent of ICU bed occupancy for three consecutive days. The improvement means progress from 48 daily hospitalization requests seen in May to 29 this month.

“The São Paulo government managed to flatten the mortality curve, we entered the plateau and now we are on a downward trend,” Covas said, adding: “Despite the moment of relaxation, we are still in quarantine. Anyone who can, stay home. And if you go out, wear the mask.”

In gross numbers, the peak of Covid-19-related deaths in the capital occurred on June 2nd, when 129 fatal victims of the disease were recorded. However, the rise in the rolling average, which considers the data from the past seven days, was seen in the week of May 22nd, when it began to present a decrease in the graph.

Vice-Governor Rodrigo Garcia also announced that there has not yet been any regression in the São Paulo Plan and that 84 percent of the state’s population is now in the program’s yellow phase. This is the first time this has occurred in three months, according to the government. By videoconference, Governor João Doria, who tested positive for Covid-19 last Wednesday, stressed the need for social isolation and health recommendations to sustain this index.

Source: Estadão Conteúdo