This Friday morning (13), the rector of Unicamp, Marcelo Knobel, held a press conference to clarify the reasons why the university chose to interrupt its face-to-face activities due to the coronavirus pandemic, in addition to presenting plans to contain the disease and ways in which the institution can contribute to combating it. In addition to the dean, Eliana Amaral, dean of Undergraduate Studies, participated in the press conference; Manoel Barros Bertolo, executive director of the university's health department; Plínio Trabasso, the infectious disease doctor and deputy superintendent of the Hospital de Clínicas (HC) from Unicamp; and Maria Luiza Moretti, infectious disease doctor and coordinator of the epidemiology section at HC.
Marcelo Knobel justified the suspension of face-to-face classes due to factors specific to the institution that could worsen the spread of the coronavirus, such as the intense movement of people around the campus and the proximity of students, teachers and staff to the health services provided to the community. "Most of the people who come to the health sector use the same buses, the same transport, people who work or go to the hospital share the same cafeterias. It's a very different situation. We also receive a public that includes children from ages six months, in daycare, until the age of 90, in the UniversIdade program, for seniors. It's a wide range of university users, which worried us", explained Marcelo.
He also highlighted that there was a concern about the university anticipating the emergence of cases of the disease among HC patients or the university community, which has not yet occurred. "We know it is a drastic decision, but we based our choice on scientific indicators and we prefer to err on the side of overzealousness rather than inaction," he commented. The objective, according to the rector, is to reduce the speed of the virus' spread and avoid a sudden overload on the entire health system.
In this sense, activities that generate crowds of people, such as classes, conferences and events, were interrupted at Unicamp. In the case of classes, teachers will be instructed to explore the new teaching technologies available and offer students activities remotely, in order to minimize the impacts of this temporary suspension. Other essential activities, such as laboratory services and administrative routines, remain operational. It was also reinforced that the health services provided by the HC, Hospital da Mulher (CAISM) to CECOM will not be changed.
The university's routine is expected to return to normal on March 29, but everything depends on the evolution of the coronavirus in the country. Therefore, the anticipation of return or extension of the suspension period may still be reviewed.
(update)
In accordance with Resolution GR 24/2020, of March 16th, it was determined to extend the period of suspension of in-person activities at Unicamp until April 12th.
"By reducing crowding, transmission decreases"
The measure taken by Unicamp to avoid crowds of people is in accordance with collective health recommendations for combating diseases that spread through physical contact. "Prevention is one of the most important points for control. In the case of coronavirus, transmission occurs through the respiratory tract, person to person, unlike other epidemics in the past, such as dengue. So transmission from person to person is quite high and avoiding crowding is the first control measure. By reducing crowding, transmission decreases", explains Maria Luiza Moretti, infectious disease specialist at HC. She also highlights the importance of people maintaining hygiene habits, especially with their hands, and the so-called respiratory etiquette, which consists of covering the mouth and nose with disposable tissues when coughing or sneezing and avoiding using your hands to do so.
To date, there are no confirmed cases among hospital patients or members of the university community. Since the beginning of transmission in Brazil, 16 suspected cases have been sent to the Unicamp health area, six of which were students and teachers and another ten were referred. Of the total, five have already been discarded and another 11 cases are still awaiting the results provided by the Adolfo Lutz Institute. The doctors clarify that all detection tests carried out by the HC are sent directly to the institute, eliminating the need for an exam called countertesting. They explain that the counter-proof is, precisely, the confirmation carried out by Adolfo Lutz of exams carried out in the private network. Therefore, there is no need for this second exam in the tests carried out by the university.
Today, Unicamp HC has 40 beds in an intensive care unit that can be used to treat coronavirus cases. However, if necessary, other areas of the hospital can be converted into ICUs. Plínio Trabasso cites the example of the outpatient surgical center, which can accommodate up to 16 new ICU beds. "There is a plan drawn up right at the beginning of the epidemic and it foresees different levels of allocation of material and human resources to care for these patients as the epidemic evolves", explained Plínio.
Throughout the period of interruption of activities and even with normalization, Unicamp must continue to direct efforts and use its capacity to carry out research and search for solutions that contribute to the fight against coronavirus. "In addition to the crisis committee, we are working on providing information through communication, also on research in the area. We have already made an internal call for researchers who work in the area and who can collaborate on diagnostic methods, treatments, with all types of activities which is our core activity. At this moment, we have to show the value and importance of the public university and strengthen this research that will be fundamental to achieving a cure or vaccine", analyzed Marcelo Knobel.
Follow information about coronavirus on hotsite from Unicamp.
Listen to material produced by Rádio Unicamp.
Check out the full broadcast of the press conference held by TV Unicamp on official youtube channel.
