When the first suspected case of the coronavirus was reported in Brazil about a month ago, medical professionals in Brazil sounded confident that they could fight, contain and defeat the virus. A few weeks later, they are not looking so confident as infections soar to worrying numbers.
Related: Brazil is Ready to Fight the Coronavirus.
By the 10th of March 2020, the total number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Brazil was 31, most of them in Sao Paulo. On the evening of the 15th of March, 2020, the total number of confirmed cases climbed to 200. That’s 169 new cases within 5 days, or an average of 34 infections per day. From March 16 to March 19, the number of confirmed cases jumped from 200 to 428. That’s 228 new infections within 3 days, which shows an average infection rate from March 16 to 19 of 76 cases per day.
If we represent the figures above on a graph, it would show a worrying trend. The infection rate seems to be increasing daily – even in Brazil – a country with one of the best healthcare systems.
So far, just 4 persons have died from coronavirus in Brazil. Sao Paulo is still the state with highest infection rate – with 240 of the 428 cases in Sao Paulo.
Meanwhile, neighboring Guyana, South America, has confirmed its fifth case of deadly disease, and talks are ongoing to close the Guyana/Brazil border.
