Out-of-control Omicron, president likewise.

By André Barroso 

Every year, near the turn of the year, we are driven by curiosity or insecurity to listen to predictions of the future by various psychics. It's common when one is right, to be tagged on social media. See? So-and-so was right! In the case of our pandemic, it becomes very easy for scientists, faced with Bolsonaro's denialist supporters and a government that sabotages vaccination, to show how much the country will still suffer from social chaos. Certain predictions, given the current situation, are easy to get right. In April and May we will see a significant increase in COVID cases. There will be an increase in hospitalizations and deaths, and the impact of this increase will depend on the number of vaccinated people and the coverage with the 3rd dose.

The short-term solution has always been hygiene and safety protocols such as masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancing. But the tug-of-war between the wealthy who want to profit by exposing workers and the more conscious population who want to protect themselves is significant. It has been significant since time immemorial. The first time we heard about social isolation and basic rules of care was in the Bible. Hand hygiene, the use of masks, and distancing were standardized for the people of Israel more than 3500 years ago. As this population traveled and passed through various communities, they had direct contact with several diseases, including leprosy. Exodus 30:18-21 says: Wash your hands. Leviticus 13:4, 5, 46: If you have symptoms, keep your distance, cover your mouth, and avoid contact with other people. Those who are infected should remain in quarantine for 7 to 14 days. It's important to remember that at that time there was no knowledge about microorganisms.  

But they had a revelation from someone who could be the poster boy for a large network of protections at the time: God. The example of a figure is important for immunization to occur. It has always been so. We can recall a recent case in the United States. In the late 1940s, polio affected 35 Americans, mainly children. In 1955, with the arrival of the vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk, Americans faced distrust and denial. President Dwight Eisenhower promoted a large vaccination campaign and went public to speak about the importance of immunization. But it only took a figure like Elvis Presley, who on the stage of The Ed Sullivan Show, in addition to singing "Love Me Tender," fulfilled a request from the March of Dimes and got vaccinated live on camera. The example caused young people to join in, and in a short time the disease was practically eradicated.

The fact, proven by the COVID Parliamentary Inquiry Commission and all the procrastinating actions of the President of the Republic against mass vaccination and now his crusade against the immunization of children, shows that this battle will take a long time to win. Brazil is currently a large breeding ground for strains that will mutate and create increasingly stronger COVIDs. Only with an efficient immunization effort will we be able to win or control the situation and return to normal. However, we are lacking examples for mass vaccination and for adherence to social distancing rules. Bolsonaro could be that example for good, but he has become the example for evil. There will be an uncontrolled explosion of cases and deaths. And the presidential palace already knows that this negatively impacts his reelection campaign, which is why it is hiding the numbers with the data blackout at the Ministry of Health, silenced by a hacker for over a month without a solution.  

Meanwhile, the president is doing a national disservice by picking a heated fight with the head of Anvisa (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency). It seems that in Brazil, the protective measures are: alcohol on the hands, mask on the face, avoiding crowds, and praying.