Social Distancing Rate in São Paulo Drops to 55 Percent

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The State Health Secretariat of São Paulo reported earlier that the portion complying with the social distancing measures stood at 55 percent on Saturday, April 11th. The rate, measured by the Intelligent Monitoring System (SIMI-SP), of the state government, showed a decrease of two percent over the preceding day.

Last Thursday, April 8th, the rate stood at 47 percent. All records are at odds with the optimal rate to prevent the spread of Covid-19, which is 70 percent, according to the coordinator of the Coronavirus Contingency Center in São Paulo, infectologist David Uip.

In a note, the portfolio stresses that the number of available beds in the health network will be insufficient to serve the population, if adherence is maintained at this level.

The SIMI-SP is based on mobile phone data that shows displacement of users living in 40 cities in São Paulo with a population of at least 30 thousand inhabitants. The system was enabled through an agreement signed with operators Vivo, Claro, Oi and TIM.

The state government says the data are captured with no disregard for the privacy of each user. The isolation rate can be seen in the website as of today, April 13th.