The Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) decided to maintain the social isolation measures it has adopted since mid-March as a prevention of the new coronavirus.

The measures would expire this Thursday, June 4, and include special work schedule, with on-call or home office for teams, classes and online activities. 

According to the Institute's Special Commission for the Covid-19 Pandemic, the new validity period will last until at least June 16, following the date announced in the most recent decree of the government of Rio Grande do Norte on quarantine in the state. 

The measures, in the ISD, have been adopted since mid-March and had already been extended four times, on April 8th and 23rd, in addition to May 5th and 20th.

The decision for social isolation, explains the Institute's Special Committee, is based on guidelines from the Ministry of Health and international evidence that this is the most effective prevention measure in this context.

The objective is to avoid agglomerations and the flow of people to reduce the risks of infection and spread of the virus.

As the pandemic situation evolves, new definitions may, however, be adopted and disclosed at any time.

How are the calls?

Face-to-face consultations remain suspended indefinitely in most clinics at ISD's Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center.

The exceptions are high-risk obstetrics and pediatrics areas – and care for victims of sexual violence – which are operating with teams on duty.

Rehabilitation clinic patients continue to receive support by phone, WhatsApp, and through materials such as videos, folders and booklets that Anita's teams are producing.

The Santos Dumont Institute is a Social Organization of the federal government linked to the Ministry of Education and includes the Anita Garibaldi Health Education and Research Center and the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neurosciences.

*Text updated on June 5, 2020.