09.07.2020

Beacon Talks with Secretary Patrícia Ellen talks about the reopening plan in São Paulo

The 11th edition of Beacon Talks addressed a very pertinent theme for the moment: the gradual reopening of establishments and services in the State of São Paulo. To talk about the main measures adopted and clarify some points of the São Paulo Plan, we invited the Secretary of Economic Development, Science and Technology of the State of São Paulo, Patricia Ellen.

With the mediation of director Maria Eduarda Sawaya, the secretary gave an overview of the changes that have taken place since the beginning of the new coronavirus pandemic. “The greatest health, humanitarian and economic crisis in recent times has brought a challenge to the governors, and São Paulo was very agile in establishing a Contingency Center and encouraging attitudes based on science, data integration and a multidisciplinary team working in a ‘war room’ with secretariats of the entire government, scientists, representatives of technology, economics, among other areas, to contribute to this construction of data, which did not exist until now, and to make decisions to have a heterogeneous and regionalized quarantine.”

Her vast consulting experience made her the executive secretary of this crisis office.  Patrícia Ellen holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and was president of Optum in Brazil, a health technology company of the United Health group. She was also a member of the Economic and Social Development Council of the Presidency of the Republic and is co-founder of the Agora Movement. In 2016, she was named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

The secretary also highlights the positive aspects of the pandemic, among them, the solidarity spirit, which proved  to be very strong in São Paulo. “We had over R$ 800 million in donations to support the population with hygiene items and basic food baskets; another positive aspect is the technological legacy, which was able to support emergency distance learning for children and teenagers. ”

Regarding education, the secretary reiterates that there is a need to understand the result of flexibilization in other sectors. “Education is considered the last frontier of flexibilization, as it is the most sensitive. We will probably still have a hybrid education, but this issue is being evaluated by a multidisciplinary team and we have all the work that has to be done to ensure safety and adaptation to the new normal”.

Patricia Ellen says that her life journey helps her to put herself in the place of the citizens today. “I was born in Vila das Belezas, from a humble family, and we experienced the importance of accessing basic services, like SUS. We have seen developed countries experiencing a collapse in their health systems and we have been able to cope with the situation. ”

As a message to parents, the secretary reinforces that the best education is the example, and leaves three tips to overcome this phase. “The first is to talk to the children about what’s happening and let them know that they need to follow the protocols. Talk lightly and gently, so they can face this new normal; the second is to work on the children’s emotional health and be present as much as possible, but in full, because time doesn’t recover; the third is to fully collaborate with the school, we have all seen how essential the presence of teachers is in our children’s development”.

To understand the governmental determinations and the reopening phases, access the link with the São Paulo Plan.

Click here to access the entire video.