By Andrea Hargraves 
The Mayor of Belo Horizonte, Alexandre Khalil (PSD), announced on Saturday morning (12/03) that he has fully recovered from COVID-19. He informed the capital’s CEO that he had conducted a new examination for the disease, and the result was negative.
When commemorating the recovery, the mayor highlighted the importance of vaccination and praised the science. “Scientific thanks. Three vaccinations. No symptoms,” the mayor told, through the Belo Horizonte City Hall press office.
On Tuesday (3/8), the advisory revealed that Alexander Khalil had tested positive for COVID-19 after a routine test. At the time, the mayor was asymptomatic. After canceling all appointments, the mayor implemented isolation at home.
Since the beginning of the first tests for COVID-19 vaccines, Khalil has presented himself as an advocate for vaccination as the main way to confront the novel coronavirus. When it was time to vaccinate, the mayor celebrated.
Khalil received his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on April 21, 2021. At age 62, the mayor received an AstraZeneca immune system. He went to the Department of Education of the Municipality of Bairro Santo Antonio, in the Central and South region, where he received the needle.
Khalil was accompanied by advisors and Sade Municipal Secretary Jackson Machado Pinto. He joked in a quick conversation with Dr Mining conditionwhen you leave the place. At the time, he even teased the nurse: “Isn’t that painful?”
Khalil received the second dose of the immunization device on July 13 of last year. To receive the second dose, the mayor chose to have the vaccination take place at the installed site in the 1st Battalion of the Military Fire Brigade, in the Center and South region.
The data show extensive vaccination coverage in the capital. In the latest epidemiological bulletin, issued by the Municipal Health Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on March 11, the first dose reached all populations over 12 years of age, and the second dose reached 95.9% of this population. The booster dose was applied in 46.9%. The vaccination rate for children aged 5 to 11 years was 68.3%.
The capital keeps all disease control indicators in green: transmission rate per infected (0.83); Occupancy of COVID-19 intensive care beds (35.5%) and occupancy of COVID-19 ward beds (29.5%).
Respect the flag
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Khalil has chosen to follow what science has decided to tackle COVID-19. The scientific guidelines were handed over to the mayor by the expert committee, which advised him throughout the period on closing and opening activities in the capital, made up of infectious disease specialists Estevo Urbano, Carlos Starling and Una Tupinambs. The capital of the state of Minas Gerais was one of the first countries to introduce measures of social isolation and the use of masks.
The decision to close trade and other activities in the capital was announced on March 18, 2020 and began two days later. BH has gone through at least five reopenings and closings, until it reaches the current stage where there are no restrictions.
In a recent interview on February 8, Khalil said the decision to shut down the city was the hardest he’s made, but it was what the panel of scholars recommended to prevent deaths from COVID-19. At the time, there were no vaccines or any treatment for this disease.
“Worst moment in my personal life. Lonely, completely alone, of course, with the support of a panel of scientists and doctors who directed me, this was what had to be done. It was brave no, it was necessary, and it wasn’t, it wasn’t pulling a rabbit,” he said in an interview with GloboNews. Out of the hat, no, he was imitating what the world was doing.
On March 4, nearly two years after the city’s first lockdown, Khalil announced the decree excluding the use of face protection in enclosed spaces. Although mask use is no longer a mandatory procedure, it is recommended that people continue to use protection.
The committee has already met and said it doesn’t need it. I recommend using. Of course, we will maintain public transportation and closed spaces. We rest the city for the efforts that have been made, for the sacrifice that all the inhabitants have made. We are aware of that and we will help,” he said at the time.
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