After the city hall of Rio de Janeiro exempts the use of masks against Covid-19 in closed places, this Tuesday (8), schools in the city adapt to the novelty, which divides the opinion of parents and experts. Despite being in favor of ending the requirement, the scientific committee recommended continued use by unvaccinated people, including children.
As the public under five is still not covered by the immunizations approved in Brazil, journalist Raphaella Luppi, mother of a three-year-old son, decided to continue using the mask. The eldest daughter, Catarina, nine, is also wearing face protection.
“I have a young son and I will maintain all safety protocols. There is no consensus in the health area, there are many children who did not complete the calendar, there was Carnival, it can have a rebound effect”, said the journalist.
Sarah Rodrigues is retired, is vaccinated and has a 16-year-old son, also immunized. But she agrees it’s too early to take off the mask. “I still don’t feel safe. I will keep using it for a while. We don’t know what’s to come. Inside the classroom is a closed place, with more concentration. I’m still worried,” Sarah said.
On the other hand, some people have already joined the release. Odete Ferreira, brought her three-year-old goddaughter Maria to school without a mask. “I can’t stand the mask anymore, it suffocates me. And Maria’s school released it. If you have a cold, we don’t send you (to class). No one in her class has taken the vaccine yet, she’s three years old. And in the little room, it’s just them. So, I’m calm,” explained the retiree.
For the scientists consulted by the CNNthe epidemiological scenario of the city, vaccination coverage and the risk of hospitalization are determining factors for whether or not they are favorable to the measure.
The infectologist and researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) Júlio Croda, in favor of overthrowing the use of masks in closed places, explains that the pandemic situation in the city favors the city hall’s decision.
“Rio has more than 50% coverage of children, which is higher than in other cities in Brazil. So I believe that yes, we are moving forward and the individual measures must be evaluated in each epidemiological context and children are not at much risk. I believe that low vaccination is not a justification for maintaining the use of a mask, especially in schools, since the risk of hospitalization and deaths in this population is lower than in the general population”, points out the specialist.
The capital of Rio de Janeiro has 83.8% of the total population with the second dose of the vaccine against the coronavirus, a rate that rises to 89.2% in the population over five years old, a range with authorization to take the immunizing agent. Altogether, 58% of children aged between 5 and 11 years are on their first dose and about 8% of this group has a complete vaccination schedule. In addition, the total population recorded 42.3% of the booster dose.
The pediatrician, infectious disease specialist and director of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIm), Renato Kfouri, argues that the use of the mask should continue in places such as public transport, schools and health units.
“In my view, some situations are imperative for the use of masks. And individually for those immunocompromised or older individuals, the use should indeed be recommended. Removing the mask today for young people, in open environments, is an easier discussion to do, it seems to me quite reasonable. But for inevitable agglomerations, for health services, for risk groups, the recommendation, in my view, should be the continuous use of the mask, especially in closed environments “, says the pediatrician.
How are schools acting in Rio
The director of the Union of Basic Education Establishments of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro (Sinepe) Lucas Machado clarifies that the institution is only advising educational establishments in relation to health protocols, but that the decision is at the discretion of each location.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, our orientation to associates is to always maintain and follow the health guidelines of the municipality and the state. However, the final decision on how each school will proceed is individual. The union guides to maintain as much care as possible and to follow the protocols of the bodies. Sinepe Rio is in favor of all measures that allow students to access classroom classes, in a safe way, respecting the standards and protocols of the competent authorities”, he said.
In the public network, the Municipal Secretary of Education of Rio de Janeiro reported that it will follow the City Hall Decree, which exempts the use of masks. However, it will continue to provide protection to education professionals who choose to use it and to students who need it. The Secretariat also encourages protection for immunocompromised people with high-risk comorbidities and unvaccinated people.
The State Department of Education reported that schools in the state network must follow the health protocols in force in the municipalities in which they are located.
According to the municipal secretary of health, Daniel Soranz, the release of the use of masks must be accompanied by vaccination.
“We are reaching 70% of children with the first dose, an active search in schools with community agents has given a lot of results. Gradually, parents are having confidence in the vaccine, seeing other children getting vaccinated,” she explained.
However, he recalls that the city’s scientific committee recommended that children who have not been vaccinated should still wear masks. “In the collective, we already have security to release people from wearing masks. This will be an individual criterion for each family member, for each child, for each family”, explained the secretary.
With the new determination approved this Monday, Rio is the first capital in Brazil to overturn the mandatory use of the mask in closed spaces. The capital’s scientific committee only maintained the recommendation for the use of protective equipment for health professionals, immunosuppressed people, with high-risk comorbidities, unvaccinated and with flu-like symptoms.
Basic care helps prevent Covid-19
Source: CNN Brasil
