Table 3 The four-stage major measures taken for COVID-19 in Brazil and Russia

Stage 1: Prevention and control of import cases

1 Public health emergency:

(1) On Jan 22, 2020, initiated a public health emergency and joint multi-sectoral epidemic prevention team against COVID-19.

(2) On Jan 28, the first suspected case was reported and the health risk level was raised to level 2 (imminent danger) and raised to Level 3 (national public health emergency) in advance.

(3) An emergency quarantine law was produced and implemented, and 34 Brazilian nationals were withdrawn from Wuhan and quarantined for 18 days.

2 Early warning:

(1) Published a COVID-19 epidemic prevention manual and guidelines.

(2) The Brazilian ministry of health and media released real-time information on the epidemic.

1 Established COVID-19 Command System: On Jan 27, 2020, the government meeting on the prevention and control of the spread of the epidemic was held, and an epidemic prevention headquarters was set up.

2 Border prevention and control measures:

(1) After the outbreak of the epidemic in China, on Jan 31, Russia closed its far eastern border with China, suspended visa services for Chinese citizens and temporarily banned Chinese citizens from entering the country for private purposes.

(2) After the outbreak of the epidemic in Europe, on Mar 18, Russia banned foreign citizens entering the country, stopped issuing tourist visas and required entry quarantine for 14 days.

(3) On Mar 27, Russia suspended all international flights.

Stage 2: spreading stage of COVID-19

1 National and local social prevention and control measures:

(1) The federal government issued a decree authorizing states to create their quarantine measures.

(2) National measures: closed elementary and middle schools; Encouraged people to wear masks of any type and make by themselves. Brazil's health minister ordered a population-wide home quarantine, but the president only supported home isolation for the elderly to protect employment.

(3) Local measures: closed schools in cities such as Sao Paulo, Rio and Brasilia; Indefinitely canceled major events; Required to wear masks or be fined; Implemented comprehensive ground lockdown city measures.

2 Border prevention and control measures: on Mar 30, Brazil completely closed its borders.

3 State of public disaster:

(1) From Mar 20 to Dec 3, Brazil entered into a state of public disaster.

(2) A package of emergency measures: launched R $147.3 billion to deal with the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on economy, and R $4.5 billion to fight COVID-19 directly.

4 Construction of square cabin hospitals: built and operated the Anhembi Square and the Convention Center Square cabin hospital, with a total capacity of 2,000 patients.

1 Set up an epidemic prevention command operation agency and an inter-agency coordination agency.

2 Strengthened surveillance and vaccines:

(1) Organized the troop and scientists to strengthen the research on virus surveillance, detection, and prevention, and developed many coronavirus detection systems.

(2) Detected herd immune markers and initiated a free coronavirus antibody assay.

3 Set up medical centers:

(1) Designated 32 military hospitals to receive COVID-19 patients, established 7 temporary mobile hospitals and allocated and renovated beds in local hospitals and clinics.

(2) Allocated 8.8 billion rubles for constructing 16 multi-purpose infectious disease medical centers; Expanding and renovating the hospital ship “Irtysh” to treat other patients in the Far East.

4 Community epidemic prevention measures:

(1) Paid vacation was extended from Mar 28 to May 11, and states of emergency were authorized.

(2) Quasi-lockdown city: People were allowed to leave homes on limited occasions; Recreational places remained closed; Supermarkets, pharmacies and other places posted signs that queue 1.5 meters apart.

(3) Banned on gatherings of more than 5,000 people; Introduced masks wearing and a passport system.

Stage 3: Restarting economic and social activities

1 Relaxed Quarantine measures and resumed economic activities: Since Jun, several states have begun to relax quarantine measures and gradually resumed commercial activities. Sao Paulo state gradually opened shopping malls, restaurants, bars, and other public places in 5 stages.

2 Medical measures:

(1) Zero tariff on 34 drugs used for COVID-19 treatment.

(2) A nucleic acid testing without getting out of cars was offered 200 tests a day in a shopping mall parking lot in Sao Paulo.

(3) Closed the Anhembi square cabin hospital.

(4) Conducted clinical trials of 9 coronavirus vaccines, developed in China, Russia, and other countries.

3 Brazil's Ministry of Health suspended the release of key data on the COVID-19 outbreak.

1 Removed of restrictive measures by grading and stages:

(1) On June 12, Russian nationwide holiday covering all sectors ended, and gradually lifted restrictions. In stage 1, lifted restrictions on sports, small-scale trade and service entities while maintaining social distance; In stage 2, people were allowed to walk outside, large businesses, physical service industries and educational institutions were allowed to limited open; In stage 3, opened public places at social distance, fully opened trade, physical services and all educational institutions and catering businesses.

(2) According to epidemic prevention situations, each federal government managed by different levels.

(3) On Jun 9, Moscow lifted policy of self-isolation, electronic pass system and walking requirement.

(4) On Sep 1, opened universities and schools, and organized the opening examination.

2 Implemented a national economic recovery plan which forces on achieving economic growth and reducing unemployment.

3 Relaxation of entry and exit prevention and control: Resumed outboard flights; Allowed Russian to go abroad for medical treatment, take care, work, and study, and allowed foreign citizens inboard.

Stage 4: COVID-19 second outbreak

1 Some states upgraded prevention and control measures: The Rio Grande do Sul state government banned beach stays, suspended celebrations and restricted on catering hours; A curfew was imposed across Parana state; The state of Santa Catarina reopened empty intensive-care beds, tightened monitoring of masks and banned crowds; Sao Paulo state entered the most stringent epidemic prevention red phase, restricted time to open supermarkets, pharmacies, gas stations and other essential places; Para state canceled Carnival celebrations, banned public gatherings of more than 10 people, closed bars; The Federal District of Brasilia imposed restrictive measures on non-essential business.

2 Vaccination measures:

(1) A four-stage priority vaccination strategy. The first is health workers, older people aged over 75 or over 60 and living in nursing homes, and indigenous people; then, people aged 60 to 74; the third Stage three is people with comorbidities; The fourth stage is for teachers, soldiers, police, rescue workers, prison officials and prisoners.

(2) On Jan 18, 2021, all of Brazil's 26 states and the Federal District began vaccination.

1 Strict prevention and control measures:

(1) Since Oct 28, Russia from 23 to 6 to ban recreational activities and provide public catering services; Strengthened disinfection measures; Required masks in public places; Enhanced detection of coronavirus.

(2) Tightened immigration rules: illegal immigrants had to leave Russia on their own or risk deportation.

2 Restarted medical centers:

(1) Resumed the temporary mobile hospitals in Patriot Park and Leningrad Exhibition Hall operation.

(2) Two new multi-purpose medical centers were built in Astrakhan Prefecture and Narimanov.

3 Vaccination measures:

(1) Registered the world's first COVID-19 vaccine (Sputnik-V).

(2) Since Oct 28, Russia from 23 to 6 to ban recreational activities and provide public catering services, and the formulation of the "Vaccine Passport" and international certification were promoted.