RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The number of suspected Covid-19 cases has increased by more than 6,000 new cases in 24 hours.
Data from Tuesday, March 17th, show 8,819 people suspected of having the coronavirus. On Monday, March 16th, there were only 2,064, proving an increase of 327 percent in suspected cases. The state of São Paulo accounts for the majority, more than 5,000, in addition to the first recorded death on Tuesday.
According to the Ministry of Health, this increase in the number of suspected cases was expected after the states started to update the system directly.
“This difference of 6,000 suspected cases is due to the fact that there were suspected cases in several states that were not being validated by the states themselves, most likely due to their ability to manually check one by one. We decided and informed the states, that it was best to adopt automated sorting. It makes our lives easier, it provides transparency and it saves time for the state to take the most important actions in surveillance,” said Júlio Henrique Croda, director of the Department of Immunization and Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health.
In an interview broadcast over the Internet, without the presence of reporters, in order to reduce the risk of contamination Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta said Brazil will face two or three months of great stress.
“We expect to be working with upward numbers, upward spirals in April, May, June. We’re going to see 60 to 90 days of great stress, so when we get to the end of June, July, we expect to be back on the plateau, August, September provided we build the so-called immunity of more than 50 percent of the people,” he said.
The Minister said he is preparing the country’s health system for this. Over 5,000 doctors have signed up for the ‘Mais Médicos’ (More Doctors) program. Registrations extend until Sunday, March 22nd. The goal is to hire 6,000 physicians.
The Ministry also wants to speed up online care to prevent patients from having to leave home and is preparing guidelines for doctors.
A further concern is for people who refuse to undergo treatment. An ordinance from the Ministries of Justice and Health allowing compulsory hospitalization was published on Tuesday.
According to the text, “people who do not undergo isolation and compulsory medical examinations, laboratory tests and medical treatment prescribed by health professionals may be punished with imprisonment and payment of a fine.
Health professionals may also request help from the police in cases of refusal or disobedience. In these cases, the police authority may refer the citizen to the house or hospital, even without judicial authorization.
This Tuesday, in Bahia, the State Prosecutor’s Office filed a criminal action against a businessman diagnosed with Covid-19 who failed to comply with the instructions to remain isolated. He traveled from São Paulo to Porto Seguro in a private jet and, according to the Bahia government, infected three other people.
Federal government officials – civil and military – now have new rules. International business trips are suspended. Domestic trips will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and employees who are part of a risk group are allowed to work from home. Events and meetings are suspended.
The Federal Police said passports will only be issued in case of emergencies, even those that were already scheduled.
In reinforcing the actions being taken, the Minister of Health recalled a basic guideline for the entire population.
“Take care of the elderly. It is time for son and daughter to take care of father and mother, grandmother, great aunt. You have to be very clear: call to ask how they are, but don’t consistently take children. Many children are asymptomatic, they do not even develop a runny nose.”
“There is no grandmother who does not place their grandchild on her lap and does not fill it with kisses. Asking them not to kiss, not to hug, not to hold them would be too harsh. So, talk, chat, try to protect them. The time is now for protection. The less elderly we have with this flu, the less pressure we will place on the ICU beds since they are unfortunately those who develop the most need for intensive care,” urged the Minister.
Currently, Brazil has more than 300 confirmed Covid-19 cases. The Ministry of Health has confirmed 291. State health secretariats have confirmed 55 more cases, totaling 346.
Source: G1