After almost six months since the return of the face-to-face activities, the classes in Ternium’s sports projects are again held at 100% capacity and in-person around Santa Cruz. According to the Rio de Janeiro City*, the city reached a low index risk for transmission of the virus. This is the best status since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Ternium Community Relations Trainee, Gleidson Santos, explains how planning provided for the lessening of sanitary measures: “The return plan was structured in May and we returned to the classes at 30% of (student) capacity and reduced hours. Already in the third stage, we are back at 100% capacity. All students are practicing the activities, which are being carried out with the utmost possible care, such as masking and hand sanitizer at the beginning, during, and at the end of classes.”
La fase III de la planificación hace posible el regreso del 100% de la presencia de los estudiantes.
For Jorgeane of the Conception, mother of two participating students, the initiative has a good reputation in the community. “Because of the pandemic, the children stayed at home a lot. I thought it was their initiative to return gradually to sports and to interact with other children, because (the project) has positive repercussions in the community. These youth could be lost and get involved with the wrong things, but they are in a court, with quality professionals who stimulate the development of sports, who encourage them to do well in school, obedience, comply with the rules, and live well in society. I really like the project and I applaud it,” says Jorgeane. She is a resident of Conjunto São Fernando, in Santa Cruz.
According to Geisa Almeida, a track and field student, the return to face-to-face activities and the lessening of measures were welcomed by everyone, who is looking forward to the end of the pandemic: “It is a pleasure to be here again, because if we have nothing to do at home, we come in, train and keep our minds busy. To wear a mask all the time is kind of annoying, but I know it is for our health. Running and training with a mask on is difficult, but we can train and it is really good for our health.”
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*The reference data is from the 44th weekly edition of the Covid-19 Epidemiological Bulletin, published on November 5th, 2021. Available here.