SP rules out mandatory, but will distribute up to 2 million masks

The government of São Paulo will not follow the recommendation of the coronavirus contingency committee that proposed that the use of masks be mandatory in public transport. The measure had been suggested as a way to curb the new wave of the disease in the state.

The alternative strategy that is being agreed with the São Paulo City Hall is the free distribution of the protection item in bus and subway terminals starting next week. A meeting this Monday (21) should seal the agreement. The information was confirmed by CNN by sources accompanying the negotiation.

To move forward with the vaccination strategy with the third and fourth dose, the municipality’s plan is to take vaccinators to public transport terminals with greater passenger circulation, city hall sources confirmed to CNN 🇧🇷

The measure was seen as being too authoritarian amid the gradual and widespread easing of Covid-19 control rules. The city of São Paulo has just over 170 beds occupied by patients infected with the coronavirus, a number significantly lower than the peak of the pandemic.

The municipality’s stock has more than 2 million masks purchased in the price registration minutes bidding model, in which regardless of the quantity, the value does not change. The lowest unit price for the disposable mask was 19 cents.

The decision comes amid the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation’s warning about the increase in cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, SARS, when the flu is directly associated with Covid-19. Data from the city of São Paulo indicate that 83% of hospitalized patients are over 60 years old.

Other states and municipalities have taken similar actions. This Saturday (18), the city of Belo Horizonte began to demand masks in health establishments and public transport. The government of Rio de Janeiro also recommended the 92 prefectures to encourage the use of protective equipment again. In Paraíba, it becomes mandatory on Monday (21) the mandatory use in public government agencies.

By indication of the scientific committee, the mandatory use of masks in public transport in São Paulo had been overthrown in September of this year. The use of masks remains mandatory in health equipment.