UFRJ recommends the use of a mask again – 08/16/2023 – Health

The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) recommended, this Wednesday (16), the return of the use of protective masks indoors and in crowds. The measure is due to the increase in the institution of cases of Covid-19 and the concern about a possible new wave of the disease.

The recommendation was made by the Center for Combating and Studies in Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (Needier).

In a technical note issued this Wednesday, the core also recommended frequent hand hygiene.

Without mentioning the number of infected people in the teaching institution, the technical note mentions the moderate and progressive increase in positive cases diagnosed at the Center for Diagnostic Screening at the nucleus.

The note also states that there is concern about a new wave of Covid-19, “a fact already observed in other countries”. “We believe it prudent to alert the social body of the university and recommend the proper use of masks in closed environments and in contexts of human agglomeration, as well as frequent hand hygiene”, says the text.

“It is worth emphasizing the importance of testing in the event of the appearance of respiratory symptoms or close contact with a case of Covid-19.”

EG.5, a subvariant of Covid-19 called Eris, has been drawing the attention of health authorities as cases grow globally and it becomes dominant in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cases of Covid-19 detected worldwide have increased by 80%, although mortality has reduced by 57%. The data were released last Friday (11).

Between July 10 and August 6, around 1.5 million cases were reported, an increase of 80% over the previous 28 days, reported the WHO weekly report. The death toll dropped by 57% to 2,500.

In early May, the WHO declared that the pandemic is no longer a global health emergency.

On the last day 9, however, the director general of the organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that “the virus continues to circulate in all countries, continues to kill and modify itself”.

More than 17% of Covid-19 cases reported in mid-July were attributed to EG.5, compared with 7.6% the previous month, according to the WHO.