The governor of São Paulo, João Doria (PSDB), asked the Scientific Committee of the State Government for a new assessment of the need to use masks in open environments. The decision comes after the confirmation of two cases of the Ômicron variant in São Paulo and may culminate in a retreat from the decision to release the population from using masks outdoors. The change is expected to take effect on the 11th, but can now be cancelled.
The opinion requested by Doria should be ready next week. “Our parameter has always been the epidemiological scenario in São Paulo. And, therefore, we need to know the impact of the new variant with the flexibility of using masks in open spaces. It is necessary to be cautious and evaluate this new element. Our commitment is to the health of the population”, stated the governor on the website of the government of São Paulo.
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The flexibility of the use of masks in open spaces was announced after guidance from the Scientific Committee of the State and based on data from the advance of vaccination and the improvement in the epidemiological scenario. In the announcement, it was foreseen that the use of masks would remain mandatory indoors and on public transport.
The State of São Paulo currently has 75.8% of the population with a complete vaccination schedule, that is, with two doses of the immunizing agent from Butantan/Coronavac, from
Fiocruz/Astrazeneca/Oxford and Pfizer/BioNTech, in addition to the single dose of Janssen. If considered only the adult population, SP currently has about 93.7% of people vaccinated.
