The governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Novo), stated that the State should present a protocol next week for the release of measures of insulation social measures adopted during the new coronavirus pandemic.
"We are studying a protocol that we should be releasing next week so that all permits are issued with due care. However, masks and various equipment must be worn, and the number of people per square meter must be limited," he said.
Although the protocol is developed by the State Health Department, according to the governor, he reported that approximately 200 municipalities have already granted some form of authorization by decision of their mayors.
"We want to do something very responsible. Minas Gerais' curve, both for deaths and coronavirus cases, has behaved much better than other states. I can say that Minas Gerais has learned its lesson appropriately. But it's up to each mayor to analyze their own situation," he declared.
Zema considers suspending isolation
According to the latest update, the state has 15 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, with 117 under investigation and 121 discarded. The total number of suspected cases reported jumped from 51,640 in the previous bulletin to 56,807 in this Thursday's publication, an increase of 5,167. The governor emphasized that many municipalities have no confirmed cases and asked: "Does this municipality have to remain closed? Will closing all activities have any effect?" According to Zema, municipalities that opt for the easing of restrictions will receive assistance and guidance from the state government.
So, this Thursday, Zema went to Planalto Palace to request financial assistance from the federal government during the crisis. According to him, the president welcomed the request for resources to offset losses in revenue from the Tax on Circulation of Goods and Services (ICMS), due to the economic slowdown caused by the novel coronavirus crisis.
"The president and the minister (Paulo Guedes) acknowledge that the states have seen a significant drop in ICMS (Tax on Goods and Services). Those (states) that were up to their noses in the water will drown if they don't receive some kind of help," he declared.
Therefore, Zema was one of three governors who did not sign, at the end of March, a letter asking for support for Bolsonaro and reaffirming science-based measures to combat the coronavirus.
Although on Wednesday night (8), in a new speech, Bolsonaro held governors and mayors responsible for measures that restrict the movement of people as a way to prevent the spread of the disease.