São Paulo Will Test 44 Thousand Amid Reopening

City Hall will start project by sampling in 96 districts to maintain economic activity, but recognizes limitation

The city of São Paulo will test around 44,000 people in its 96 districts in the coming weeks to monitor new coronavirus infections and try to adjust the reopening of economic activity gradually. The first round of serological tests ended yesterday and will be followed by seven others, with about 12 people each time in each of the 468 basic health units.

Similar to opinion polls, the city will choose people to represent their communities. The goal will be to map where the virus remains most present, and to monitor people close to those infected and to treat them before they need hospitalization.

City Hall will start project by sampling in 96 districts to maintain economic activity, but recognizes limitation. Rivaldo Gomes/Folhapress - Folhapress

Edson Aparecido, Secretary of Health, recognizes the limitations of the project. "We don't have tests for everyone."

"This is not a containment strategy," says Denize Ornelas, director of the Brazilian Society of Family and Community Medicine. For her, São Paulo should mirror itself in Florianópolis, which has been testing all suspected cases and the people around them.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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