SBI recommends returning to the use of masks for population vulnerable to covid

Covid-19

It is possible that EG.5 may be circulating in the country silently

This Thursday (17th), the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI) published a list of recommendations to reduce the impact of a possible circulation of the EG.5 strain, from Ômicron, in the country. Among them, if there is an increase in cases, the return to the use of face masks by the people most vulnerable to Covid-19 stands out.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classified EG.5, also called Eris, as a variant of interest (VOI) last week. It has already been identified in 51 countries, but there are still no cases registered in Brazil.

“It is possible that EG.5 may be circulating silently in the country, due to the low rate of genomic collection and analysis in Brazil”,

says SBI in a note.

“We must be alert to the possibility of a new wave of cases occurring in the coming weeks, with low potential for serious conditions, based on the epidemiological scenario of the countries where it already circulates”,

explains.

Although it has mutations that confer greater transmission capacity, the WHO classifies the variant as “low risk” for public health at a global level, since it has not been shown to lead to more severe cases of the disease, compared to previous variants.

SBI recommendations to reduce the impacts of the entry of the variant in the country

• Vaccination against Covid-19

Keep the vaccination schedule for Covid-19 up to date with recommended booster doses. All persons 6 months of age or older should have at least three doses of vaccine; risk groups – people aged 60 or over, immunosuppressed, pregnant women, indigenous population and health professionals – must have taken the booster doses up to 1 year apart from the previous dose, preferably with the bivalent vaccine.

• Use of masks for at-risk population

They should be used in closed places, with low ventilation and agglomeration, in case there is an increase in cases of flu syndrome, circulation and viral detection in Brazil.

Testing of cases of flu-like illness to reduce transmission in the event of Covid-19, with isolation of positive cases.

Under the SUS, start treatment within the first five days of symptoms with Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid), available in the public health network, for patients aged 65 or over and immunosuppressed, after a positive test for Covid-19. The goal is to reduce the risk of worsening, complication and death.

“In the private health network, focusing on the most vulnerable population for hospitalization and death from Covid-19, in situations where it is impossible to use NMR/r, alternatively consider the use of molnupiravir or remsevir in the first days of symptoms”,

says the note.

*With information from Metrópoles

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