Mass Testing for Coronavirus Kicked-off Yesterday in São Paulo

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Testing, which is critical to understand and contain the spread waves of the novel coronavirus, took a major step on Friday, May 15th, with a new program by the São Paulo state government.

The pilot project is already underway in partnership with the State Police, and the goal is to conduct one million tests in total, of which half were purchased by the Butantan Institute and half provided by the Ministry of Health.

This number includes the rapid test, which within 15 minutes detects antibodies in the blood. This will allow mapping how many people have been infected with the virus even if they have not shown any symptoms, enabling a calculation of how widespread the virus is in the state.

José Henrique Germann, São Paulo’s Secretary of Health, said that the testing strategy would be the main topic on Friday at his team’s daily press conference.

All countries that have successfully contained the waves of the disease have done so through comprehensive testing strategies followed by screening and isolation of those who have had contact with infected individuals.

On Thursday, the Secretary of the National Treasury, Mansueto Almeida, said in a virtual hearing in the National Congress’ Joint Monitoring Committee for Covid-19 that “the way out of social isolation will hinge on a number of factors, such as mass testing”.

However, the federal government has not yet clarified what its deadlines and goals are in this regard. Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases has exceeded 200,000 and the death toll reached 13,993 by Thursday, May 14th.

Source: Exame

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