On Tuesday night (22), the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) decided to determine that the use of masks on planes and airports is once again mandatory in Brazil. The requirement has been reimposed just over 3 months after being overthrown by the directors. The measure came into force on Friday (25/11).
Now, with the new resolution approved this Tuesday, considering the significant increase in cases of the disease in recent weeks, Anvisa has determined the following:
- The use of masks becomes mandatory both inside airport terminals and aircrafts and in means of transport (such as buses) and other establishments located in these areas
- These masks must be fitted to the face, covering the nose, chin and mouth, minimizing spaces that allow air and respiratory droplets to enter or exit
- Inside the aircraft and other areas of the terminals (such as food courts), it will only be allowed to remove the mask for drinking and eating
- The exception to this last rule is for children under 3 years of age, people with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, sensory impairments or any other disabilities that prevent them from making proper use of the protection
Measures Prohibited
The new rule prohibits the following measures:
- The use of face shields without a mask where facial protection is mandatory
- The use of acrylic or plastic masks
- The use of masks that have exhalation valves (generally used in civil construction), including the N95 and PFF2 of this model
- The use of scarves, cloth bandanas or any other material that is not characterized as a protective mask for professional use or non-professional use
- The use of non-professional protective masks made with only one layer of protection
São Paulo Also Reinstates the Use of Masks
On Saturday (26/11), São Paulo state and the city governments have reimposed the mandatory use of a mask in public transports, due to the increase in the number of cases of Covid-19. The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon (24/11) and the decision follows a technical analysis by the Management Council of the State Secretariat for Science, Research and Development in Health against the advancement of cases of infected by the new coronavirus.
