Brazil Officially Lifted Covid-19 Public Health Emergency

Due to the decline of epidemiological monitoring data and the promotion of vaccination, Brazil officially lifted the national major public health emergency (espin) caused by the novel coronavirus pandemic on the 22nd. This means that two years after the World Health Organization (who) announced the start of the novel coronavirus pandemic, Brazil, which has a public health system (SUS), has escaped from the biggest health emergency facing the world.

According to the official website of the Brazilian federal government, the decree to terminate espin was signed by the Minister of health Marcelo queiroga on April 22 and took effect 30 days later, so that states and cities have time to adapt to the new state. The Ministry of health will support the follow-up measures of the actions related to the national emergency plan carried out by the States and cities. Although espin has been lifted, the Ministry of health stressed that it will not interrupt any public health policy.

On May 12, at the request of the Ministry of health, the Brazilian health supervision agency (Anvisa) extended the validity of the emergency use right of the new crown vaccine (which should have been used in the vaccination during the espin period). This measure also applies to therapeutic drugs that should have been used in times of health crisis. According to Anvisa's decision, the emergency use right of the above vaccines and drugs will be extended for one year.

On the same day, Anvisa revised the health and epidemic prevention agreement of the airport and the aircraft cabin, including restoring the catering service in the cabin and allowing people to take off their masks for meals.

In order to combat the COVID-19, the Brazilian government has taken a variety of measures, including opening more intensive care unit (ICU) beds; Allocate financial resources to States and cities; Purchase hospital drugs, including those required for intubation kits; Send personal protective equipment to medical personnel at the front line of fighting against the epidemic; Purchase a variety of new coronal vaccines and organize the largest vaccination work in Brazil's history.

With the promotion of vaccination, compared with the epidemic peak data caused by the variant strain of novel coronavirus Omicron at the beginning of this year, the number of newly confirmed cases and deaths (7-day moving average) of COVID-19 recorded every day in Brazil has decreased by more than 80%. According to the opinion of the technical personnel of the Ministry of health, the epidemiological standard indicates that Brazil is no longer at the espin level.