Rio de Janeiro Samba Schools Make Medical Clothing to Fight Virus
2020-04-16
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1Groups known as samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, usually spend the year working to make beautiful clothing for the city's Carnival celebration.
2But members are now working to protect lives instead.
3They are making medical clothing for hospital workers who are treating coronavirus patients.
4Dr. Wille Baracho recently carried cloth into the Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school in the Vila Vintem neighborhood.
5Inside, the sewers sat on plastic chairs and busily turned the cloth into medical clothing.
6The plan started when Baracho and one of his coworkers were at a nearby hospital emergency room.
7There, they saw a shortage of materials.
8Both also are part of the leadership in the Padre Miguel samba school and saw a chance to redirect labor.
9The city joined in, donating thousands of meters of cloth, and the workers set to work.
10"We have some friends who died already, some who are on leave or sick with the disease," Baracho told the Associated Press.
11He added that he has found it more satisfying to produce medical clothing than Carnival costumes.
12"I think everyone here would say that. Carnival is a different happiness: fun, a pleasure. This is a mission."
13The Unidos da Vila Isabel samba school also joined the effort, with two workers sewing in a storage building.
14More will start sewing soon, both from Vila Isabel and others at top samba schools.
15People across the city are expected to join, said Eneida Reis.
16She is executive director of assistance at RioSaude, a public company that supervises the city's health divisions.
17Every willing helper is welcome.
18At one Rio hospital treating COVID-19 patients, doctors and nurses can use 2,000 sets of scrubs every day, city officials say.
19It is not Rio's first effort to use the spirit of Carnival toward combating the virus.
20The parade grounds where samba schools compete is known as the Sambadrome.
21It has started sheltering homeless people - who are considered especially at risk during the health crisis.
22Rio has Brazil's second-biggest number of COVID-19 patients, with more than 1,000 cases.
23There are a few hundred more in the surrounding area, the state health secretary said.
24For most people, the coronavirus causes few symptoms which leave the body in two to three weeks.
25But it can lead to something more serious, including pneumonia and death, for some.
26Older adults and people with existing health problems are especially at risk.
27At the Padre Miguel workshop, Jucelia Abreu and other sewers feed cloth through their machines.
28Others from the samba school are doing the same at home.
29Together, the team makes around 450 scrubs each day.
30"The directors asked us if we would be willing to volunteer, and I accepted," because it's very satisfying to help the people, Abreu said through a face mask.
31"We have to help."
32I'm Jill Robbins.
1Groups known as samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, usually spend the year working to make beautiful clothing for the city's Carnival celebration. But members are now working to protect lives instead. They are making medical clothing for hospital workers who are treating coronavirus patients. 2Dr. Wille Baracho recently carried cloth into the Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school in the Vila Vintem neighborhood. Inside, the sewers sat on plastic chairs and busily turned the cloth into medical clothing. 3The plan started when Baracho and one of his coworkers were at a nearby hospital emergency room. There, they saw a shortage of materials. Both also are part of the leadership in the Padre Miguel samba school and saw a chance to redirect labor. The city joined in, donating thousands of meters of cloth, and the workers set to work. 4"We have some friends who died already, some who are on leave or sick with the disease," Baracho told the Associated Press. He added that he has found it more satisfying to produce medical clothing than Carnival costumes. "I think everyone here would say that. Carnival is a different happiness: fun, a pleasure. This is a mission." 5The Unidos da Vila Isabel samba school also joined the effort, with two workers sewing in a storage building. 6More will start sewing soon, both from Vila Isabel and others at top samba schools. People across the city are expected to join, said Eneida Reis. She is executive director of assistance at RioSaude, a public company that supervises the city's health divisions. 7Every willing helper is welcome. At one Rio hospital treating COVID-19 patients, doctors and nurses can use 2,000 sets of scrubs every day, city officials say. 8It is not Rio's first effort to use the spirit of Carnival toward combating the virus. The parade grounds where samba schools compete is known as the Sambadrome. It has started sheltering homeless people - who are considered especially at risk during the health crisis. 9Rio has Brazil's second-biggest number of COVID-19 patients, with more than 1,000 cases. There are a few hundred more in the surrounding area, the state health secretary said. 10For most people, the coronavirus causes few symptoms which leave the body in two to three weeks. But it can lead to something more serious, including pneumonia and death, for some. Older adults and people with existing health problems are especially at risk. 11At the Padre Miguel workshop, Jucelia Abreu and other sewers feed cloth through their machines. Others from the samba school are doing the same at home. Together, the team makes around 450 scrubs each day. 12"The directors asked us if we would be willing to volunteer, and I accepted," because it's very satisfying to help the people, Abreu said through a face mask. "We have to help." 13I'm Jill Robbins. 14The Associated Press reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 15_________________________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17samba -n. a lively Brazilian dance 18sewers -n. people who sew things like clothing 19costume -n. clothing that is worn by person who is trying to look like a different person or thing 20mission -n. a task or job someone is given to do 21scrubs -n. a special loose-fitting clothing that is worn by people who work in hospitals 22symptom -n. a change in the body which shows that a disease is present 23pneumonia -n. a severe infections of the lungs 24mask -n. a covering over the face, especially to prevent the spread of germs