Brazil´s Acre State Decrees Red Emergency Level Fearing Healthcare Collapse

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With 98% of the total public healthcare network beds allocated to the treatment of people infected with the novel coronavirus occupied, the government of Acre has decreed a state of emergency throughout the state.

The change in the emergency level to red is established in Decree No. 7,849, published on Monday night, February 1st, and should remain in force until at least February 19th.

According to the regulation, the decision complies with the advice of the Covid-19 Special Monitoring Committee, and is owed to the “sudden rise in the risk of the healthcare system collapsing” in the state.

By yesterday afternoon, the State Health Secretariat recorded 48,820 confirmed cases of the disease and 873 deaths as a result of the novel coronavirus since early March. In addition, 162 (or 95%) of the 170 hospital beds and 60 (80%) of the 75 intensive care unit (ICUs) beds were occupied.

“The number of people infected by the novel coronavirus has greatly increased in recent days,” said Governor Gladson Cameli in a video released on social media. “All measures that fell to the state were taken, but we have reached an even more alarming situation. Therefore, the Covid-19 Special Monitoring Committee, with my endorsement, decided that the moment calls for a more rigorous and prudent decision,” added Cameli when detailing the scope of the state decree.

“All of Acre will be under the Red Flag until February 19th, so we will not need to experience the most radical measure, which is a lockdown. We are prioritizing life so that the same chaos that other states in the country are facing does not occur in Acre,” commented the governor as he asked for the “understanding, cooperation and compliance” of the population with the measures.

Restrictions

With the publication of this latest decree, Decree No. 5,496 dated March 20th, 2020 comes back into force. As a result, non-essential commercial establishments such as shopping malls, cinemas, clubs, gyms, fairs, bars, cultural centers, beauty salons and churches are banned from operating. Restaurants may only serve consumers through delivery. The crowding of people in public spaces is also restricted.

Establishments such as markets, pharmacies, medical, psychological, dental and veterinary clinics, physiotherapy centers, laboratories, opticians, mechanical workshops in general, banks, hotels, funeral homes, gas stations, building material stores, industry in general with public service through scheduling, and food, medicine, water, gas, cleaning products, hygiene and personal protection equipment (PPE) companies are allowed to operate.

Another state decree, No. 7,225, had also established that during the Red Flag, classes in public and private schools are suspended.

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