In Brazil, 31,790 health professionals have contracted COVID-19

Eduardo Macário, deputy secretary for Health Surveillance at the Health Ministry, said 199,768 health professionals have been reported as suspected cases of COVID-19. Of these, 31,790 have been confirmed and 114,301 are under investigation. Another 53,677 have been ruled out.

Most severely affected among all suspected cases are licensed practical nurses and nursing assistants (34.2%), nurses (16.9%), doctors (13.3%) and receptionists (4.3%).

Macário took part in an interview at the Planalto presidential palace on Thursday (May 14), where he unveiled figures collected by the SUS Notifica system, designed early in the pandemic to gather data on the new coronavirus across the country.

Upward trend

Macário stressed that Brazil overtook France in its number of cases, adding that the Latin American country is facing an upward trend, whereas other countries with a large number of cases have shown signs of a descent.

“We’re facing an upward trend especially because of the amount of tests and the transmission taking place in a number of cities. We see that the number of deaths [from COVID-19] is on the rise, which shows an alarming epidemiological situation in Brazil. No forecasts can be made on its stabilization or decrease,” the secretary stated.

This assessment, he added, helps local leaders evaluate their strategies and locals take the necessary precautions to prevent an infection. He argued for testing, identifying the infected, and isolating contacts.

According to the map put together by the Health Ministry, 2,988 cities have reported cases of the disease. In other 1,087 municipalities, COVID-19 led to deaths. The ministry staff also carried out a survey to identify how fast the pandemic is spreading, considering the evolution starting with the 50th case. This indicator does not compare the number of cases. In Brazil, the average daily increase in COVID-19 cases stood at 7.3 percent.

COVID-19 tests

Macário declared that 3 million tests have been distributed so far. Now is the time for the second stage, he said, which should have 7 million laboratory tests (PCR) and 9.5 million kits for serology testing. Up to the end of the year, 46 million tests are likely to have been used. As it stands today, he further reported, 128 thousand tests are being processed.