Three Brazilian states report suspected cases of Indian strain of coronavirus

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Pará State Secretariat of Public Health (SESPA) is investigating 2 suspected cases of infection by the Indian B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus in the municipality of Primavera.

The patients may have visited the coast of Maranhão, where the strain was detected last week, before developing symptoms. This is the 3rd state to report investigations – Ceará is also investigating an infection.

Primavera is located 193 kilometers from Belém. The secretariat reported that the patients are in isolation, and samples from both were forwarded for sequencing to the Evandro Chagas Institute.

In an attempt to contain the entry of the Indian Covid-19 variant into Brazil, the Ministry of Health on Saturday announced the implementation of sanitary barriers at airports, bus stations and major highways. The government also pledged to send rapid antigen tests to Maranhão to be used in blocking strategies.

Another 2.4 million units will be delivered to other states, focusing mainly on border areas and terminals with a large flow of passengers – distribution should be defined today in a meeting with state and municipal health secretaries.

Yesterday, the same day that president Jair Bolsonaro attended a demonstration with motorcyclists, without a mask, and prompted crowds in Rio, Minister Marcelo Queiroga traveled to Maranhão to deliver 600,000 Covid-19 detection tests. In São Luís, Queiroga met with Governor Flávio Dino (PCdoB), an opponent to Bolsonaro, and called for integration in the efforts to fight the disease.

“We will work together and in coordination to provide the required security, to convey to the population what they need: trust in their managers, trust in the minister, in the state health secretary, in the municipal health secretary because we are working together for the people of Brazil,” said Queiroga, with no mention of the rally promoted earlier by the president.

In an attempt to reduce the risk of the new strain spreading, the minister also reported that Maranhão will be supplied with 5% additional vaccine doses. The immunizers will be used in the cities of São Luís, Raposa, São José de Ribamar and Paço do Lumiar, which comprise the island of São Luís. Dino stressed that he will maintain “administrative dialogue” with the federal government and municipalities.

Queiroga and Dino also flew over the MV Shandong ship, which is isolated as it was where the first 6 cases of the variant were detected.

Source: Estado de S. Paulo.