Christmas should probably be the most anticipated event for many families this year, especially after the coronavirus pandemic isolates family members and interrupts several meetings. But, despite the event being known as the solution to these problems, Brazilians – and the world – should not forget that Covid-19 still affects several countries.
So, in an interview with CNN, the physician Elmer Huerta, oncologist and specialist in public health, made some recommendations about the most prudent ways to carry out the Christmas celebrations, while advancing the cases of the Ômicron variant.
For Huerta, the first point is to remember that the pandemic is not over. Even with vaccination against Covid-19 in Brazil being at a good pace, “caution is very important”, says the doctor.
Data from the Ministry of Health show that, in all, more than 75% of the Brazilian population has already received the first dose, and more than 65.5% of people have the complete vaccination schedule – that is, they took two doses or the vaccine. Single dose.
However, there is a significant number of municipalities in Brazil whose adherence to the immunizing agent is below 50% of the population. So, you can’t be too careful.
“And it’s very important to understand that the vaccine is the only way we have to fight [contra o coronavírus]”, says the doctor.
In Brazil, 32 cases of the new variant were registered, pointed out the Ministry of Health, last Wednesday (22). 20 in São Paulo, 4 in Goiás, 3 in Minas Gerais, 2 in the Federal District, 1 in Rio Grande do Sul, 1 in Rio de Janeiro and 1 in Santa Catarina. And the folder highlighted that there are still 23 cases under investigation.
With that, Huerta emphasizes that the third dose is essential.
The federal government announced on December 18 that it will reduce the application interval of the third immunization against Covid-19 from five to four months. In other words, whoever took the second dose until August can now take the third.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, in a publication on Twitter:
To increase the protection against the Ômicron variant, we are going to reduce the application interval for the 3rd dose from five to four months. The booster dose is essential to stop the advance of new variants and reduce hospitalizations and deaths, especially in risk groups.
— Marcelo Queiroga (@mqueiroga2) December 18, 2021
do not crowd
Another suggestion from Huerta is to spend this Friday (24th) and tomorrow (25th) with the family, “not going to places with a lot of people”. Many capitals are known for their Christmas schedule, but the expert recommends that taking shelter is the best solution.
The Director General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also shares the same opinion as Huerta and stated last Monday (21) that “[é melhor] a canceled party, than a lost life”.
“At the same time, the future is uncertain, and a new variant may thus emerge”, concludes the doctor, discussing the risks that the population can bring if they do not protect themselves.
Ventilation
And also in an interview with CNN, Bernardo Gomes, a doctor specializing in public health, points out two other ways to celebrate Christmas. Among them is ventilation. He explains that opening the windows to circulate the air and, consequently, renew the quality, is one of the ways to spend the party safely.
“We have to be aware that when we are together, a percentage of the air we breathe has already passed through someone else’s lungs”, he says, suggesting that guests should not limit themselves to socializing only at the table.
“And it is worth remembering that it is not recommended to have the entire dinner ritual in the same space”, he says. “It’s worth choosing the house with the most ventilation possible”.
Rosana Richtmann, an infectious disease specialist at Emílio Ribas, also recommends that, if it is necessary to bring the family together, “that small nuclei be made at the time of eating. Have dinner with the people who live at home; don’t bring everyone together at a single table.”
And Leana Wen, medical analyst at CNN and visiting professor at George Washington University, says that a distance of 1.8 meters per person is still necessary at all times. “And that, if possible, the family meeting is held in open spaces”.
Testing
Gomes’ second recommendation is to carry out testing on family members. “There are no excuses to leave the house without taking a test”, he says, explaining that the closer to meeting family members the better.
Remember that anyone can perform quick tests in pharmacies.
But he points out that it is not because people are vaccinated that they cannot transmit. “Like children, the disease manifests itself asymptomatically, that is, they may not get sick, but that doesn’t mean they can’t transmit it”, he explains.
“We can’t and shouldn’t think we can control everything. We have to think about all the risks”, defends Gomes.
Think not next
“We need everyone’s help to flatten the infection curve and avoid a health system collapse,” says Leana. “Hospitals are already overloaded.”
Thus, Rosana Richtmann states that “if you have someone with a clinical picture of Covid-19, who can’t find their family… don’t expose the rest of the people.”
And all the experts point out that basic care – which should already be done daily – must also be applied during Christmas: using a mask, washing your hands and rubbing alcohol in gel.
*With Agência Brasil and Catarina Machado, from CNN Portugal
Reference: CNN Brasil
