Covid-19: the end of the public health emergency in Brazil

On Sunday (22) the state of emergency in public health of national importance (ESPEN), due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ended in Brazil.

The Decree with Resolution It was signed by the Minister of Health, Marcelo Quiroga, on April 22, and stipulated a 30-day period for states and municipalities to adapt to the new reality.

The Brazilian government’s decision was made based on Epidemiological scenario Cooler and advances the vaccination campaign in the country. According to the Ministry of Health, despite this measure, public health policy will not be interrupted.

“The portfolio will support states and municipalities with regard to the continuity of actions that make up the national emergency plan,” the government assured.

Historical

On May 12, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), at the request of the Ministry of Health, extended the validity period of permits for the emergency use of covid-19 vaccines, which are no longer used in the covid-19 vaccination campaign. Disease with the end of Epin. This measure also applies to medicines that should only be used during a health crisis. In accordance with the Anvisa Board of Directors’ collective decision, the authorizations will remain in effect for another year.

On the same day, Anfisa amended the decision allowing the flexibility of health procedures adopted at airports and planes, due to the end of the state of emergency. Among the changes Resume food service On board and permission to remove food masks during flight.

According to the Ministry of Health, the federal government has allocated approximately 34.3 billion Brazilian reals to purchase about 650 million vaccines against COVID-19.

Due to vaccination, Brazil recorded a decrease of more than 80% in the moving average of cases and deaths due to COVID-19, compared to the peak of cases arising from the micron variant, at the beginning of this year. Epidemiological criteria, with the view of the portfolio technical areas, indicate that the country is no longer in a state of a national public health emergency.