Medidas de distanciamento social no controle da pandemia de COVID-19: potenciais impactos e desafios no Brasil
Estela M. L. Aquino, Ismael Henrique da Silveira, Júlia Moreira Pescarini, Rosana Aquino, Jaime Almeida de Souza-Filho, Aline dos Santos Rocha, Andrêa Jacqueline Fortes Ferreira, Audêncio Victor, Camila Silveira Silva Teixeira, Daiane Borges Machado, Enny S. Paixão, Flávia Jôse Oliveira Alves, Flávia Bulegon Pilecco, Greice Menezes, Lígia Gabrielli, Luciana Leite, Maria da Conceição Chagas de Almeida, Naiá Ortelan, Qeren Hapuk R. Ferreira Fernandes, Renzo Flores-Ortiz, Raquel Nunes Palmeira, Elzo Pereira Pinto, Érika Aragão, Luís Eugênio Portela Fernandes de Souza, Manoel Barral‐Netto, Maria Glória Teixeira, Maurício L. Barreto, Maria Yury Ichihara, Raiza Tourinho Lima
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged researchers and policy makers to identify public safety measures forpreventing the collapse of healthcare systems and reducingdeaths. This narrative review summarizes the available evidence on the impact of social distancing measures on the epidemic and discusses the implementation of these measures in Brazil. Articles on the effect of social distancing on COVID-19 were selected from the PubMed, medRXiv and bioRvix databases. Federal and state legislation was analyzed to summarize the strategies implemented in Brazil. Social distancing measures adopted by the population appear effective, particularly when implemented in conjunction with the isolation of cases and quarantining of contacts. Therefore, social distancing measures, and social protection policies to guarantee the sustainability of these measures, should be implemented. To control COVID-19 in Brazil, it is also crucial that epidemiological monitoring is strengthened at all three levels of the Brazilian National Health System (SUS). This includes evaluating and usingsupplementary indicators to monitor the progression of the pandemic and the effect of the control measures, increasing testing capacity, and making disaggregated notificationsand testing resultstransparentand broadly available.