The compulsory use of masks is now only recommended for specific groups in health units, Anvisa says health

Queue to immunize children at UBS in the Western District of São Paulo. – Photo: WERTHER SANTANA / ESTADÃO CONTEDO

The national health surveillance agency (Anvisa) on Monday updated its guidance on the use of masks in health services.

The agency made a recommendation on the universal use of face shields in a more flexible fashion, Amending the technical note at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, which specified the measure.

Now, Anvisa recommends the use of masks in these environments only for some specific groups, including:

patients are suffering Respiratory symptoms or positive for Covid-19 and their comrades.
patients who have Close contact with the confirmed case During the disease transmission period (last 10 days).
professionals who perform the examination of patients.
Health services professionals, visitors and accompanying attendants in the areas of hospitalization of patients, Such as, for example, wards, rooms, intensive care units, emergency and emergency units, corridors in hospitalization areas, and so on.
Situations in which the use of a face mask is indicated Personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare professionalsin any field of the health service.

The agency said that it is considering conducting technical discussions on the subject in order to make a decision, and assess the general scenario of a decline in the number of cases and deaths resulting from the disease in the country, in addition to offering vaccines.

“The purpose of this measure is to prevent contamination and transmission of the Covid-19 virus in the hospital environment and to protect patients, other attendants, visitors and professionals,” Anfisa said in a note.