Covid-19: Brazil Confirms 291,579 Cases and 18,859 Deaths (May 20th)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – According to the Ministry of Health’s daily report, the number of confirmed cases in 24 hours broke a record, totaling 19,951. In all, 291,579 people are infected. The result marked an increase of 7.3 percent compared to Wednesday, May 19th, when the number of people infected stood at 271,628.

Brazil recorded 888 deaths in 24 hours, totaling 18,859. The result represents an increase of 4.9 percent over the preceding day when 17,971 deaths by Covid-19 were recorded. The number of new deaths was lower than that recorded on Tuesday, which saw 1,179 deaths.

Of the total confirmed cases, 156,037 (53.5 percent) are being monitored, and 116,683 (40 percent) have recovered. There are still 3,483 deaths under investigation.

São Paulo state remains the epicenter of the pandemic in the country, accounting for the highest number of deaths (5,363). The state is followed in fatalities by Rio de Janeiro (3,237), Ceará (1,900), Pernambuco (1,834), and Amazonas (1,561).

In addition, deaths were recorded in Pará (1.433), Maranhão (634), Bahia (362), Espírito Santo (341), Alagoas (251), Paraíba (230), Minas Gerais (177), Rio Grande do Norte (170), Rio Grande do Sul (161), Amapá (142), Paraná (137), Santa Catarina (94), Rondônia (90), Piauí (87), Goiás (78), Acre (76), Federal District (77), Sergipe (69), Roraima (64), Tocantins (42), Mato Grosso (32) and Mato Grosso do Sul (17).

In terms of the number of confirmed cases, the ranking includes São Paulo (69,859), Ceará (30,560), Rio de Janeiro (30,372), Amazonas (23,704) and Pernambuco (22,560). Among the federal units with the most people infected are Pará (18,135), Maranhão (15,114), Bahia (11,197), Espírito Santo (8,092) and Paraíba (5,838).

Overall, Johns Hopkins University’s global map shows that Brazil ranks third in confirmed cases, behind Russia (308,700) and the United States (1.54 million).

In the number of deaths, the country ranks sixth, behind Spain (27,888), France (28,135), Italy (32,330), United Kingdom (35,785), and the United States (93,163).

The countries’ populations must also be considered in both indicators since Brazil is more populous than nations such as the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain. By early Wednesday evening, 4.96 million confirmed cases had been recorded worldwide.

Chloroquine

In a press conference at the Planalto Palace held yesterday, May 20th, representatives of the Ministry of Health introduced the new guidelines for the use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of Covid-19. The issue has sparked controversy: to date, there is no substantiated evidence on the drug’s efficacy, and it had become the subject of disagreement between President Jair Bolsonaro and the (now former) Health Ministers Luiz Henrique Mandetta and Nelson Teich.

Earlier, the portfolio had mentioned the potential for its use in severe cases, given the risks of cardiac complications. On April 7th, then-minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta declared that the drug could be used “even in other cases” (mild symptoms) depending on the doctor’s decision.

Mayra Ribeiro, the Ministry of Health’s Work Management Secretary, said the difference in the document announced yesterday provides “guidance from the CFM’s [Federal Council of Medicine] determination that doctors should be free to decide.”

“Today, we guide what prescriptions may be made, and we provide this medicine. When we have alternatives that show promising results. The Ministry of Health is not directing self-prescription, but rather the right for everyone to have access to medication from face-to-face assessment,” said Mayra Ribeiro, pointing out that the drug will now be available through the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).

The Secretary argued that protocols and measures in other countries favorable to such treatment were used as a reference, but did not detail organizations or countries that use chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in cases involving mild symptoms.

The substitute executive Secretary, Élcio Franco, stated that the guideline was “agreed” with councils of state and municipal secretaries and with the Brazilian Society of Cardiology.

Asked during the interview about the absence of scientific evidence on the drug’s effectiveness, he replied: “everyone knows that scientific studies take time. If we wait for all steps to be followed, the epidemic will be over, and thousands of people will die,” declared Franco.

ICU beds

The Ministry of Health team reported that 6,152 ICU beds had been enabled for exclusive use in the treatment of Covid-19 during the pandemic. The habilitation is the procedure by which the body identifies the beds in a state or municipality and takes charge of its funding. According to the portfolio, the daily amount needed to cover such expenses has doubled from R$800 to R$1,600.

Source: Agência Brasil