Municipal and state classes in Manaus are suspended due to air quality; Ufam and UEA also suspend activities

The air quality in Manaus showed very poor to poor levels at around 7am this Monday (19), according to data from the Electronic Environmental Surveillance System (Selva), from the State University of Amazonas (UEA). The map showed concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5) in the “very bad” range in several neighborhoods, with records of 87.8 µg/m³ in the Morro da Liberdade region and 87.6 µg/m³ nearby.

Pollution is caused, among other factors, by smoke from fires, which affects air quality in the capital.

The State Department of Education and School Sports (Seduc) informed that classes in schools in the capital will be suspended in all shifts. In the interior, the measure applies to teaching units in Autazes and Nova Olinda do Norte.

According to Seduc, the decision follows the guidelines of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), based on Joint Technical Note No. 22/2026, from the Amazonas State Department of Health (SES-AM) and the Amazonas Health Surveillance Foundation – Dr. Rosemary Costa Pinto (FVS-RCP). The document guides preventive measures to protect the school community and establishes pedagogical strategies and formal records to be adopted.

Ufam suspended in-person academic and administrative activities on the Manaus and Itacoatiara campuses during the three shifts this Monday (19) and Tuesday morning (20).

According to the university, the decision considers a technical note from the institution's Air Quality Commission, which indicated air quality levels between very bad and terrible in both municipalities.

The concentration of fine particles also exceeded the maximum limit recommended by Resolution No. 506/2024 of the National Environmental Council (Conama), according to the note.

Activities can be carried out remotely or asynchronously. Essential services and those that cannot be interrupted must be maintained.

Ufam recommends that the population remains indoors, with doors and windows closed, and avoid exercising outdoors. If you need to travel, the recommendation is to use PFF2 or N95 type masks.

The university restaurants at the Faculty of Medicine and the Itacoatiara unit will operate normally. The restaurant in the southern sector of the Manaus campus will open for breakfast and lunch. The restaurants at the Faculty of Nursing and in the northern sector will remain closed.

UEA suspended classes and other in-person academic activities from Monday (19) until Friday (23) in all units in the capital and in units in the interior affected by the same environmental conditions.

During the suspension, teachers must maintain pedagogical monitoring of students and continue with subject planning. The university informed that the details will be disclosed in a specific ordinance.