Conference 2021 Pre-Recorded Video

 

Project title

The federative conflict at COVID-19: The states of São Paulo and New York and its health protective decrees caused by their presidents’ inertia

 

Authors and Affiliations

Carlos TN Felix1

1. UNESP FCHS, Franca, São Paulo, Brazil

 

Abstract

Background

COVID-19 highlighted the inability of several states to protect their people. Even though it affected all countries on the globe, some were more affected than others. This difference can be due to several factors, one of the main ones being the seriousness in which the disease was fought by the governments of each state. In this scenario, the representatives of the executive from Brazil and USA had much in common, portraying the disease as a joke and not taking effective measures, increasing a characteristic phenomenon of the federative model adopted by both states, the federative conflict. As a result, this work compares the conflict between the decisions of the federal states most affected by the pandemic of each country, São Paulo and New York, against the pronouncements and decrees of their presidents, Jair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump.

Methods

The methodological process employed was a quantitative and comparative bibliographic review of the pronouncements and decrees regarding the confrontation of COVID-19 by Brazil’s and USA’s presidents, as well as those carried out by the governors of the most affected states in these countries. The study also considered the constitution of each country and World Health Organization pandemic recommendations.

Results

The decisions of Brazil’s and USA’s representatives contradicted the recommendations of international health agencies, their countries obtained one of the highest transmission rates for COVID-19. The governors of São Paulo and New York tried to reduce the rate of virus’ transmission by using their autonomy to make more health protective decrees than those declared by the chief executives, being strongly criticized by them. Nevertheless within this federative conflict, usually the most protective decisions were maintained.

Conclusions

The neglect with COVID-19 causes significant increase in its transmission, therefore, more strict sanitary measures are necessary. São Paulo and New York managed to maintain their pro-health stance and improve the situation of their states, even against their state representative’s, demonstrating that greater autonomy is possible for federated entities when their decisions are in line with their constitution and well-being of people.