Delta variant found in half of Covid-19 samples collected in city of Rio de Janeiro

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Delta variant was found in 56.6% of samples collected last month in the capital city of Rio de Janeiro. This was announced on Sunday (15) by the Municipal Health Secretary of Rio de Janeiro, Daniel Soranz.

“We have received new genome sequencing results from LNCC and UFRJ/LVM Laboratories that complement the other results and show that the Delta variant was identified in 56.6% of the samples collected last month. Avoid unnecessary contact and wear a mask,” Soranz wrote on social media.

Last week, an internal document from the Secretariat of State for Health (SES) revealed that “Rio is the epicenter of the delta variant in the country. With the diagnosis, the Secretariat requested “with urgency” new beds for the admission of Covid-19 patients.

The document was signed by Superintendent of Regulation Kitty Crawford and sent to the Undersecretary of Health on Thursday (8). According to G1, the order proposed more beds at Cruz State Hospital in Nova Iguaçu, a large suburb of the capital city.

INCREASE IN ADMISSIONS

On Monday morning (16), Rio de Janeiro Health Minister Daniel Soranz told “TV Globo” that Covid-19 admissions are increasing in the city. Currently, 92% of the Covid-19 beds and 85% of the beds in the wards are occupied.

The secretary said that even cured patients remain in hospitals due to sequelae. The number of hospitalizations could increase, he said.

“The number of people admitted to the hospital has increased by 10% in recent days. We had to reopen new beds that were closed. We have a relatively high occupancy rate right now. We may have an even bigger increase,” the secretary said.