At a World Health Organization online meeting, General Eduardo Pazuello, Brazil's interim Minister of Health, gave a two-minute update on how Brazil is managing coronavirus. He talked about the following: communication between the three levels of government, help sent to Brazil's North and Northeast regions of the country, and the adjustment of the health ministry's protocols to be "evidence-based." He did not mention the health ministry's plans to expand the use of chloroquine.
At the WHO Assembly, each country had two minutes to present its strategies to fight the coronavirus, and most spoke in a self-congratulatory tone.
Brazil, as stated last week by Eduardo Macário, the deputy secretary of health surveillance, is experiencing a "high alert" situation and a "moment of growth in cases," becoming the fourth country with more cases in the country. Last weekend Brazil overtook Italy and Spain, hard hit by the pandemic.
In English, Pazuello stated that "the federal government assesses the situation daily and supports cities and states with the necessary resources to reduce the effects of the pandemic".
In the North region, mentioned by Pazuello in his speech, Manaus is the only city with intensive Care service. The state health network collapsed in April and is operating at 82% of capacity. Health professionals across the country report a lack of PPE (personal protective equipment), and a lack of mass testing, as in other countries. Estimates show that Brazil will lack beds, even in an optimistic scenario.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon