Brazil Records 888 Covid-19 Deaths in 24 Hours, Nearing 19,000 Victims (May 20th)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Wednesday, May 20th, one day after beating the mark of 1,000 daily deaths by the novel coronavirus for the first time, Brazil recorded 888 more deaths and 19,951 confirmed cases, the highest number yet. The country accounts for a total of 291,579 infections and 18,859 victims of Covid-19. The data was updated by the Ministry of Health.

Brazil, the sixth most populous country in the world, ranks third with the highest number of people infected by Covid-19, behind only Russia – with 308,705 confirmed cases – and the United States with 1,548,646, according to Johns Hopkins University.

São Paulo, the state most affected by the pandemic, sees a very significant spread of the disease in the interior. All cities with at least 15,000 inhabitants record coronavirus cases, according to a survey conducted by the Secretariat of Regional Development. This represents 74 percent of the state’s 645 municipalities.

On Wednesday, São Paulo recorded a total of 69,859 confirmed cases and 5,363 deaths. Governor João Doria said in a press conference that the lockdown might be inevitable.

In the opposite direction, the government of Rio de Janeiro, the state with the second-most deaths from the disease, has developed a three-flag classification system and set rules to ease social isolation in the state, which has 30,372 people infected with Covid-19 and 3,237 deaths.

Although no dates have been provided, the aim is to reduce quarantine levels, considering the rate of bed occupancy in hospitals and the curve of contamination by the novel coronavirus.

Espírito Santo state estimates that coronavirus cases in the state are ten times higher than recorded. The government is conducting a Serological Survey until June, and preliminary data suggest that approximately 84,000 people could be affected by Covid-19. Currently, there are more than 8,000 people confirmed as infected and over 340 victims of the disease.

Ministry releases chloroquine

On Wednesday 20th, the Ministry of Health launched a new protocol for the use of chloroquine from the earliest symptoms presented. It also establishes which doses should be prescribed to patients with the novel coronavirus, from the 1st to the 14th day of symptoms of the disease.

The protocol also establishes that patients must state they are aware that the treatment can cause side effects that may lead to “severe organ dysfunction, prolonged hospitalization, temporary or permanent disability, and even death.”

Source: Exame