The city of Goiânia, through the municipal department of Social Assistance (Semas) of covid-19. However, it is preparing a work plan to provide assistance to the homeless people of the capital, due to the new coronavirus.
This should be presented this week. “It would be premature to give any details about it,” said the department’s secretary, Mizair Lemes Júnior. He was meeting with the Semas board to prepare it, but he set aside some time to speak to Mais Goiás.
According to the secretary, the city has around 800 people in this situation – 350 of whom are actually homeless and the rest spend the day on the city's streets, but have a place to sleep.
He also points out that the Casa da Acolhida houses 120 people, the Centro Pop another 120 and the Casa da Família, 30. The difference in numbers is for those who actually have a home.
He also states that the pandemic is something that took everyone by surprise. “Both agencies and hospitals. Semas was also caught off guard.” Thus, he briefly informs about the plan, which aims to protect employees, but without stopping providing services.
Furthermore, Mizair guarantees that the goal is to serve not only homeless people, but also those living in the poorest regions, who depend on assistance. “So, it is possible that the plan will be ready this week”, he predicts.
December 2019 Census and Coronavirus
Data from December, from a survey of the homeless population, collected through a partnership between the City of Goiânia and the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), show that the number of individuals who live exclusively on the streets and have nowhere to go, no home, is 353 people. There are also another 435 street workers, who work at traffic lights, according to the census.
However, in Goiás, on the morning of this Wednesday (18), 12 cases had been confirmed. In fact, Aparecida de Goiânia registered its first infected person. So far there are no details about the patient infected with covid-19, but the information was validated by the Goiás Health Department (SES-GO) this morning.
In the capital, there are five confirmed cases so far. Other cities in the state that have registered patients with the virus are: Rio Verde, with three; two in Anápolis; one in Jataí; and, now, one in Aparecida.
The numbers are recorded in the database of the Strategic Information Center for Health Surveillance (CIEVS) of Goiás. There is no confirmation of deaths in the State.