Ministry of Health Waiting for Test to Confirm New Coronavirus Case

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday, March 4th, that it is investigating a potential new confirmed case of the new coronavirus. The screening is conducted jointly with the municipal and state health departments of São Paulo.

The first test was positive, and second tests to confirm the infection are being performed.

So far, the country has recorded 488 suspected cases of the new coronavirus, points out the portfolio’s report disclosed on Tuesday, March 3rd.

By comparison, on Monday there were 433 cases under investigation.

The country has two confirmed cases of the disease, both in São Paulo. The two infected patients are in home isolation.

Among the cases under investigation, 130 are in São Paulo, 82 in Rio Grande do Sul and 62 in Rio de Janeiro, the states with the highest number of records. The others are scattered over 20 states.

On Tuesday, March 3rd, the Ministry of Health decided to include the United States in the list of countries whose recent patient travel history must be followed by the health network to identify cases of suspected new coronavirus infection.

Until then, cases of patients with fever and other respiratory symptoms – such as cough and difficulty breathing – and a history of travel to 16 countries where there were more than five cases of local transmission were regarded as suspect. The time interval for such a history is up to 14 days before the onset of symptoms.

This brings the total number of countries monitored to 29. This change comes after determining that there is local transmission of the virus in some regions of the United States, such as California.

The countries being monitored are: China, South Korea, North Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, Croatia, Greece, Finland, Denmark, San Marino, Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, United States, and Canada.

The Philippines and Cambodia have no confirmed cases, but they are located within the affected region and are therefore also on the list.