Economy Minister Suggests “Immunity Passport” to Reopen Brazil’s Economy

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Minister of Economy Paulo Guedes mentioned, on Saturday, April 4th, the possibility of adopting a kind of “immunity passport” in Brazil, so that people with confirmed immunity to the virus can work normally in a second stage of the pandemic when the economy will be reopened.

The plan would be to test the immunity of Brazilians in this second stage. According to Guedes, there would be 40 million tests per month.

“This morning we were talking with a friend in England, who has developed the ‘immunity passport’. He produces 40 million tests. He is to provide us Brazilians with 40 million tests a month,” Guedes said during a videoconference with representatives from the retail sector.

Guedes said he has already told the Minister of Health, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, the Chief of Staff, Braga Neto, and President Jair Bolsonaro about these tests.

“You take the test, you are positive, you can move around. You’re negative, you must go home,” Guedes said of the operation of the immunity test. “You see, that’s not now. We’re in isolation now. It’s for the future when we come out of isolation,” the Minister added.

According to Guedes, whoever has immunity confirmed by this test will be allowed to work. This will be a significant step towards the reopening of the economy after the period of social isolation brought on by the pandemic, said the Minister.

The videoconference with Guedes included representatives of organizations such as the National Chamber of Store Managers (CNDL), the Retail Development Institute (IDV) and the Brazilian Supermarket Association (ABRAS).

Source: Infomoney