The Secretary of State for Health of Rio de Janeiro reported, this Friday (14), that it suspended elective surgeries throughout the state for the next 30 days. The suspension took place after deliberation with the 92 municipalities in the state, in the face of the advance of Covid-19 cases. The measure is also due to the high number of health professionals infected by the disease.
According to the Secretary of Health of Rio, Alexandre Chieppe, the suspension is exceptional and can be reviewed before 30 days if there are improvements in the epidemiological scenario.
“With the involvement of health professionals and the increase in the number of hospitalized patients, we decided to suspend elective surgeries in the state, for a period of up to 30 days, which can be reviewed in a previous period”, said Chieppe.
According to Chieppe, the measure aims to protect people who would be hospitalized for surgeries that can be postponed. “We hope that this situation passes quickly so that we can review this measure”, he said.
According to SES, the percentage of health professionals on leave as a result of Covid-19 is up to 20% in state units. The ministry also reported that “it is working to reduce the impact of the removal of health professionals in serving the population”, and one of the measures was the exceptional suspension of elective surgeries.
In recent weeks, Rio de Janeiro has recorded a high number of coronavirus cases in most municipalities in the state. In the state capital alone, at least 12,000 employees of municipal hospitals had to be removed for having contracted the disease between December and January.
(With information from Lucas Janone of CNN)
Reference: CNN Brasil
