Covid-19: Amazonas Calls for Help; Government Announces Support Measures

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Amazonas is one of the states with the highest incidence of Covid-19. A report released by the state government on Thursday, April 30th, recorded 5,254 confirmed cases and 425 deaths. According to the report, 264 patients were hospitalized, 135 in intensive care units (ICUs), and 1,639 people have recovered from the disease.

The center of the pandemic in the state is its capital, Manaus. According to the update disclosed by the state government, there have been 3,273 confirmed cases and 312 deaths due to the disease. The city government reported up to 140 burials in a single day in the capital’s cemeteries.

On Saturday, April 25th, the government sent a letter to the Ministry of Health, reiterating the call for the opening of field hospitals in Manaus, the supply of equipment, and also human resources.

The government claims it has found it difficult to hire people in health facilities. In total, funds were requested to hire 60 physicians to work in ICUs, 20 physicians to coordinate in these locations, 20 ICU nurses, and 80 physiotherapists.

In addition, bed clearance and authorization to manage the Getúlio Vargas University Hospital were solicited. The request had already been submitted by Governor Wilson Lima to Vice President Hamilton Mourão on April 20th.

In total, six documents with support requests were sent to the Ministry of Health and the Vice Presidency of the Republic. A further request is the release of ventilators purchased from a Brazilian manufacturer and blocked by a decision of the Ministry of Health.

Resources

Governor Wilson Lima plans to invest R$450 (US$112.5) million in health care, using funds owed by the administration to federally-owned banks, such as the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Banco do Brasil (Bank of Brazil) and Caixa Econômica Federal (Federal Savings Bank).

Arthur Virgílio Neto, the mayor of Manaus, said he asked the new executive secretary of the Ministry of Health, Eduardo Pazuello, for tomographs (to visualize spots on the lung), more tests and personal protective equipment (PPE) for health professionals.

In a videoconference meeting of the Brazilian Association of Collective Health (ABRASCO) held on April 29th, Virgílio said that social isolation is failing in the city and that the health system has collapsed due to the growth of cases in the capital.

“We used to have 30 to 32 burials a day, which were related to seasonal flu. Now we never have fewer than 100, and we totaled 140 yesterday, April 28th. It’s a dramatic scenario. The health care system has collapsed, as its capacity for care is being rapidly exhausted. So the solutions are not the ones we ideally wanted to provide,” he said.

Virgilio condemned the President’s opposition to social isolation.

Responses

The Minister of Health, Nelson Teich, stated at a press conference on Thursday, April 30th, that Amazonas is a priority. According to him, 180 beds have been cleared for the state. Of the R$482 million in aid to be released next week, R$116 million will cover expenses related to the fight against the pandemic in the state.

Another measure announced at the press conference was the deployment of 581 health professionals to reinforce the action of health teams in Manaus. They will reach the capital on Sunday and will undergo training by the Brazilian Hospital Services Company (EBSERH).

Court rulings

On April 16th, the judge of the Amazonas 4th Circuit Court, Paulo de Brito Feitoza, ruled on the release of all beds of the private Delphina Aziz hospital and the release of beds in other facilities.

In addition, other suits brought by the Amazonas Prosecutor’s Office have been granted to provide a greater service structure. This is the case of claims ordering the state government to build 13 ICU beds in Parintins and 10 ICU beds in Itacoatiara.

Source: Agência Brasil