The Brazilian Ministry of Health has been making a major ongoing effort to expand coronavirus testing in the public health system by making new tests available, either through direct purchase or donations.
According to the official publication on its portal, last Thursday (9), almost one million tests for diagnosing COVID-19 had already been distributed throughout the country, but that is not the case.
How was this done? According to the ministry, a new shipment of 1 million rapid tests arrived in Brazil this Thursday and will begin distribution next week along with another 50,000 RT-PCR tests.
As of the publication of this article, the ministry confirmed that 451,400 RT-PCR (molecular biology) tests had been sent to the Central Public Health Laboratories (LACEN) across the country, in addition to national reference laboratories.
This quantity sent is part of the acquisitions already delivered to the Ministry of Health by the Oswaldo Cruz Institute – Fiocruz (104,872), the Paraná Molecular Biology Institute – IBMP (45,560) and a donation from Petrobrás (300,000).
Ministry of Health – update on the new coronavirus
The tests sent accurately identify the virus that causes COVID-19 at the onset of symptoms, that is, while it is still active in the body. This test is used to diagnose severe hospitalized cases of COVID-19, but we know it's not easy.
Furthermore, it is used in the Sentinel Network, which monitors the evolution of the disease in Brazil through sampling, such as the symptoms of cases associated with the virus, both in severe cases, in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and in mild cases, in Flu-Like Syndrome (FLS).
Coronavirus – Rapid tests (serology)
The ministry reported that so far, 500,000 units have been distributed to the states. They were donated by mining company Vale to the Ministry of Health to help Brazil combat the coronavirus. A second shipment of 1 million rapid tests donated by the mining company arrived in Brazil last Thursday (9).
Another piece of information provided by the ministry led by Mandetta is that from this new shipment, 570,000 tests will be distributed to the states next week, another 180,000 will be used in research, and 247,000 will make up the Ministry of Health's strategic stock.
Donations from large companies to combat Coronavirus
Vale donated more than 5 million rapid tests to the Brazilian Ministry of Health, which will be used to treat healthcare professionals across the country, as well as security personnel such as police officers, firefighters, and civil guards with flu-like symptoms.
Therefore, as far as we know, the initiative allows these professionals, who are on the front lines and are part of essential services, to take the test and, once they no longer show symptoms of the disease, they can return to work quickly, safely, without having to wait the recommended 14 days of isolation.
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Source: Ministry of Health