The municipal health authority has confirmed that the UBS do Canaã will remain open during the New Year period to provide basic care for minor ailments. The unit will operate on 31 December and on 1 and 2 January, with opening hours from 09:00 to 15:00 each day, offering an option for residents of the Vale do Aço region who need non-urgent medical attention.
Vale do Aço health services New Year schedule
The Municipal Health Secretariat said the UBS do Canaã will treat mild cases such as common respiratory symptoms, low fever and minor gastrointestinal complaints. Specifically, the unit will attend patients presenting flu-like symptoms, sore throat, low-grade fever, cough and runny nose, as well as vomiting, diarrhoea, body aches and allergic reactions. These services are intended to provide accessible care and help reduce the demand on the UPA emergency unit.
Health officials emphasised that the UBS focuses on conditions that do not require urgent or emergency intervention. By keeping the unit open across the holiday period, authorities expect to direct people with less severe problems away from high-demand emergency services. This measure is part of routine holiday planning to maintain continuity of care when regular services are reduced.
Residents of the Vale do Aço, which includes cities such as Ipatinga, Coronel Fabriciano and Timóteo, are advised to use the UBS do Canaã for the types of complaints listed, while reserving the UPA for more serious symptoms. The UPA remains the appropriate destination for severe breathing difficulties, persistent high fever, loss of consciousness, chest pain or other signs that suggest a medical emergency.
The Municipal Health Secretariat did not announce additional special clinics for the holiday period, but reiterated that keeping primary care units operational for limited hours helps maintain access and ease pressure on emergency departments. People seeking care are encouraged to attend during the stated hours and to bring any documentation or health records that might help clinical assessment.
For those unsure whether their condition is suitable for treatment at UBS do Canaã, simple guidance can help. Mild flu-like symptoms, low fever, sore throat and cough without breathing difficulty can generally be assessed at a primary care unit. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea that are not accompanied by severe dehydration may also be managed at primary care. However, anyone experiencing severe or worsening symptoms should proceed to the UPA or call emergency services.
Local residents planning to travel or host visitors over the New Year are reminded that maintaining awareness of available health services can avoid unnecessary delays in care. The temporary opening hours at UBS do Canaã provide a practical alternative for routine, non-urgent medical needs during the holiday window.
Key Takeaways:
- UBS do Canaã will operate on 31 December, 1 and 2 January from 09:00 to 15:00 to treat mild illnesses.
- The unit will attend symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea to reduce pressure on emergency care.
- The Municipal Health Secretariat highlights the measure aims to divert non-urgent cases from the UPA.
