Starting next Monday (10), all events held in the city of São Paulo will have to require proof of vaccination. “We had an initial protocol that stated that events with more than 500 people should require a passport. We are making this change due to the epidemiological situation that the city is experiencing today. As long as there is this scenario of ascension of the Ômicron variant in the city, we are going to demand the need for a passport for any event”, said the municipal health secretary of São Paulo, Edson Aparecido.
Since December, the city of São Paulo has been observing a large increase in the number of cases and hospitalizations for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SRAG), which includes the cases of covid-19 and influenza Influenza. The increase was caused by the appearance of the Ômicron variant and also by the appearance of another variant of H3N2.
According to the city, just yesterday 53,000 patients sought health services in the capital of São Paulo because of respiratory problems. Because of this increase, the mayor of São Paulo, Ricardo Nunes, determined that all Basic Health Units (UBS) and the Ambulatory Medical Assistance Units (AMAs) also open on Saturdays.
Today (6), the city announced the cancellation of the Street carnival. The samba school parades should be maintained, but a meeting will still be held with the Liga das Escolas de Samba to agree details on sanitary protocols that will need to be complied with.
The city asks that the population continue to be vaccinated. “Vaccination reduces the number of deaths. The technical data that the vaccine saves lives is indisputable. Vaccination was increasing and deaths decreasing. São Paulo, the vaccine capital of the world, had a very large reduction in the number of deaths due to the vaccine”, said Mayor Ricardo Nunes.
In addition, the city requests that residents continue to comply with sanitary recommendations, such as the use of masks and hand hygiene, in addition to avoiding crowding.