The Council of Municipal Health Secretariats of the State of Rio (Cosems-RJ) requested, this Thursday (25), that the federal government demand the vaccine passport for people to enter and remain in Brazil.
The letter sent to the Ministry of Health demands that strict measures be taken to control circulation in ports, airports and at borders with other countries.
The municipal secretaries are concerned about the proximity of the end-of-year festivities and carnival, which causes the movement of thousands of national and international tourists. Another concern is related to the start of the fourth wave of Covid-19 in Europe.
“It is extremely important that the border policy be revised, since the speed of dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 depends on quick decisions and the government’s ability to choose the most appropriate measures”, says an excerpt of the document.
The letter signed by the President of the Council and Health Secretary of Niterói, Rodrigo Oliveira, emphasizes that vaccination coverage against Covid-19 in Brazil has not yet surpassed 70% of the population with a complete regimen.
The National Council of Health Secretaries (Conass) and the National Council of Municipal Health Secretaries (Conasems) manifested themselves in favor of the requirement of a vaccination passport for the entry of travelers. In a note, released this Thursday (25), the Councils are demanding additional measures to protect the population.
The requests were sent to the Ministry of Health on the same day that the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) published guidelines on the entry of travelers into Brazilian territory. Among the recommendations are, for example, testing for vaccinated and non-vaccinated, self-quarantine for non-immunized until the test result for Covid and the Traveler’s Health Declaration (DSV).
What does the Ministry of Health say?
In a statement, the Ministry of Health stated that “the criteria for the entry of foreigners or Brazilians from abroad into the country are elaborated in an integrated and inter-ministerial manner, always aiming at the security and well-being of the Brazilian population”.
“The guidelines that provide for exceptional and temporary measures for entry into the country are described in ordinance No. 658/2021, drawn up jointly between the Civil House of the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Health and Infrastructure”, he says note.
*Under supervision of Isabelle Resende
Reference: CNN Brasil
