Boulos and Covas preach the prevention of Covid-19 in SP, but cause agglomerations in the 2nd round of the electoral campaign | 2020 elections in São Paulo

The search for the vote of the Paulistanos led the two candidates to provoke agglomerations in the streets of the city in the different campaign activities of the last two weeks.

Both Boulos and Covas, however, defended disease prevention in interviews and spent most of the time always wearing a protective mask on their face, but did not avoid body-to-body and physical contact with the voter.

Last Friday (20), when launching a democratic front with several representatives of center-left parties that support it, the PSOL candidate said that the issue of the pandemic in São Paulo “has to be treated responsibly, not conveniently. political and electoral “.

“Last week, on the eve of the elections, the City Council did not update the Covid figures for five days. Now the state government, which is led by Bruno Covas’ political godfather, Doria, said it will only do the Plano SP revaluation on November 30. One day after the elections. The issue of the pandemic must be dealt with responsibly, not with political and electoral convenience. That is the concern we have. And this concern goes far beyond a campaign agenda. It is the concern for the lives of the people of the city ”, he declared.

Despite the ideas of defending health, both candidates were trapped close to or close to large groups of people, among whom there was always someone without a mask.

Nor did they avoid physical contact, as evidenced by several photographs recorded during the second shift by the G1 and TV Globo, which followed the candidates daily.

On the same Friday (20), the candidate Bruno Covas (PSDB) defended in the debate held by TV Bandeirantes that it was “important to remember the respect and attention that we must still have at this time” with the coronavirus pandemic.

“The serological survey and the census that we carry out among students and teachers show that we still have a very high number of children who are not vaccinated, who can bring this disease home. (…) The virus is not even left or right. It is a reality that must be faced, ”said the toucan.

The day after defending social distance as a form of prevention, on Saturday (21), Guilherme Boulos took a 1.5-hour walk in the community of Heliópolis, in the South Zone, where he was accompanied by militants, leading crowds to the neighborhood streets. (see photo below).

Same case of candidate Bruno Covas (PSDB), who, on Monday (23), was surprised without a mask, having coffee in a closed place with the elected councilor Thammy Miranda (PP) in the Liberdade neighborhood.

The two without a mask were less than a meter and a half away, in a closed environment, violating the guidelines of the health authorities. (see photo below).

Bruno Covas’ visit to Liberdade, in fact, generated several moments of agglomeration and the candidate was approached at all times by voters, being accused on bumpy sidewalks and collecting taxes during the pandemic.

When the citizens responded, the mayor was constantly touching the voters, once again violating the Sanitary Surveillance rules.

Bruno Covas, who already had the Covid diagnosis confirmed in June this year, included meetings in bakeries and restaurants for breakfast and lunch every day in the campaign agenda for this second round, which generated crowds of people, advisers and spectators without masks around them and, thus, allowing the spread of the disease in closed environments.

In these events, even the mayor has argued that the disease is under control in the city of São Paulo, despite the increase in cases, and that there is no need to restrict the flexibility of quarantine.

Increase two cases no 2nd shift

The dispute in the second round in the city of São Paulo occurred amid the disclosure of data by health authorities on the increase in the number of infected, hospitalized and hospitalized by Covid-19 in Intensive Care Units ( UCI) statewide. The situation worries experts due to the fear of a second wave of the coronavirus.

Immediately after the first round, doctors from 14 private hospitals in the city of São Paulo reported an average increase of 20% in cases. The state government was slow to admit the dominance in the numerical curve and postponed until November 30, the day after the vote of the 2nd round, the reclassification of the quarantine situation in the city. Tighter restrictions may be placed on business and leisure activities in an attempt to curb the spread of Covid.

Last Thursday (26), however, José Medina, coordinator of the Covid-19 Contingency Center, admitted that the dizzying growth was related to the elections. For the technicians who accompany the disease in the state, the electoral campaigns stimulated “the number of hand-to-hand contacts, crowds and parties”, which caused an increase in the number of hospitalizations due to the disease.

“What possibly triggered this surge, this plateau shift, or even a possible surge was the activities, not on election day, but the activities that took place during the election campaign,” Medina said.

Mayor Bruno Covas and a candidate for reelection, however, continued to deny the increase in cases, advocating the need for increased restrictions to curb the spread of the disease in the capital for the time being.

“It is not a question of admitting or not admitting [o aumento da pandemia]. The Municipal Health Surveillance has pointed out the stability of the cases here in the city. We will wait for the guidance of the state government, but in the city of São Paulo there is no need to return to the flexibility that has been given, since there is a stabilization in the evolution of the pandemic, ”said Covas.

After having a positive diagnosis for the coronavirus confirmed on Friday (27), which led to the cancellation of the debate on TV Globo, Boulos once again repeated, in a note released to the press, that “there are signs of a second wave of the pandemic, until now. neglected by state and municipal governments in charge of implementing the measures. ”

Even after hearing confirmation that federal deputy Samia Bonfim (PSOL), a colleague of the party with whom she carried out campaign events, had the disease, the candidate continued to make street agendas. Boulos only suspended the agenda four days later, when he decided to promote events only indoors, but always with the presence of the press and many people around.

After spreading the diagnosis through social networks, the candidate, who is asymptomatic, went into social isolation at his home and said he will not vote on Sunday (29), date of the 2nd round.

The last act of the campaign will be carried out by the PSOL vice-candidate, Luiza Erundina, 85, who will participate in a caravan this Saturday (28), aboard the so-called “Erundinamóvel”. It is a vehicle with transparent glass, similar to the “popemobile”, which keeps the candidate isolated from physical contact with people.

“I am sure that I will not be able (in the campaign), but many people will be in my place. I am sure that, precisely because of the need for isolation, I will not even be able to vote on Sunday, millions of people will be able to vote. Millions of people who led this campaign behind the back, “Boulos said in a video posted after the Covid-19 diagnosis.

Boulos stopped panning in the second phase of the dispute for the Executive. The technique was widely used in the first round by him and his followers, but criticized by experts because it could eventually spread the disease.

Health doctor Ana Freitas Ribeiro, who is part of the Emílio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases, says she is concerned about this year’s campaign, especially about the crowds caused during street agendas.

“The main form of transmission of the SARS-COV-2 virus is respiratory, from droplets expelled by patients when coughing, sneezing and talking. People close to two meters can become infected,” said the doctor.

“People who move should always wear the mask and wash their hands frequently, in addition to being careful when removing the mask and putting it back on the face, as they can become infected,” he defended.

The pandemic campaign is a challenge

The report asked the candidates’ position on the crowds in the second round and expects a return.

In the first round, both reported that the campaign was “difficult” and different amid the pandemic. Covas told the G1 that the “campaign was totally atypical” and a real “challenge” to comply with sanitary regulations and guidelines, but that it was complying with them “with the necessary rigor.” In the first round, Boulos did not comment on the issue.

OR G1 awaits the positioning of Guilherme Boulos.

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