There is no rush to dispense with the use of masks in Brazil – health minister

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga said this Monday (5) that there is “no hurry” to dispense with the use of masks amid the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil and stressed that the measure would be adopted based on science.

Almost a month ago, President Jair Bolsonaro said that the minister would issue an opinion to release the use of facial protection for people already vaccinated or who have already contracted the disease, even in the face of the high rate of contamination and deaths from Covid in the country and the delay in advancing vaccination.

The president also said at the time, incorrectly, that people already vaccinated against Covid do not transmit the disease. National and international health experts claim otherwise and recommend maintaining mask use even after vaccination.

“First, you have to do a scientific study. After the study comes, then the opinion is issued. There is no rush to do this. This has to be done based on science, which we have repeatedly defended,” said Queiroga when asked by journalists about the issue.

“The Department of Science and Technology of the Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Strategic Inputs is working on this request that was made by the President of the Republic,” he added.

Queiroga’s statement occurred after visiting a health unit in Brasilia where he vaccinated against Covid-19 government ministers, such as the holder of Infrastructure, Tarcísio Freitas.