The Government of Santa Catarina canceled last Wednesday (24) a regulation establishing measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in ILPI (long-term care facilities for the elderly).

The Government of Santa Catarina publishes a decree repealing the rules introduced to prevent Covid-19 in ILPI – Photo: Leo Munoz/ND

The current regulation was signed by Minister of Health Carmen Zanotto and dated last Monday (22). The canceled text was made public on November 29, 2021, that is, a year and five months ago.

At one time, the SES (State Secretary of Health) spoke in detail about ways to prevent infection in the MLPI, such as, for example, the obligation of visitors to wear a mask, as well as a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from elderly residents. Professionals were also required to use protective equipment.

In addition, the text also highlights the need for an exclusive bathroom for residents with Covid-19 and the implementation of a rotation system for permanent residents in places of collective activity such as canteens.

Among the factors behind the reversal of the ordinance, the state government cited the improvement in the epidemiological scenario of the disease due to vaccination and “the stability of the number of cases and deaths during 2023 in the state.”

As well as the promotion of immunization with the availability of a bivalent vaccine and wider vaccination coverage of the population over 60 years of age.

ILPIs must now follow the rules of the Covid-19 Guidance or “other document that supersedes it.”

According to a bulletin released last Wednesday (24) by Dive (Council for Epidemiological Surveillance), Santa Catarina had 24,531 positive cases in 2023 and 126 deaths.

The state already accounts for more than 2 million positive cases and 84,924 Covid-19 deaths since 2020.