Fiocruz registers increase in cases of Covid-19 in 12 states of the country

The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) records a moderate growth trend in cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), in the long-term trend, in 12 states: Alagoas, Amazonas, Ceará, Goiás, Pará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina and São Paulo.

According to Fiocruz, cases of Covid-19 correspond to 47% of positive results for respiratory viruses associated with severe respiratory syndrome.

The data were released this Friday (18), in a new bulletin InfoGripe, which takes into account the records of the Epidemiological Surveillance Information System until the 14th of November.

The survey has shown a new advance of Covid-19 among the adult population of Brazil since the beginning of this month. In the previous week, Fiocruz had already observed this movement in four states – Amazonas, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo – and reinforced the possibility of expansion to more parts of the country.

In Amazonas, Pará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina and São Paulo, according to Fiocruz, the growth of SARS records occurs in the age groups over 60 years old, due to the coronavirus.

In Alagoas, Ceará, Goiás, Piauí and Rio Grande do Norte, however, the increase is restricted to children or presents an oscillation around a still relatively low level.

At the end of October, the coronavirus was responsible for 26.4% of patients with SARS in the country, an index that jumped to 47% in the new InfoGripe bulletin, taking into account the cases in the last four weeks. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) accounts for 24.2%, influenza A for 10.4% and influenza B for 0.3%.

InfoGripe coordinator Marcelo Gomes highlights the importance of returning to the use of masks and vaccination against Covid-19.

“The vaccine is very important to reduce the risk of aggravation, but its role is a little smaller in transmission. Therefore, it is essential that we use good masks again in specific situations, that is, in public transport, closed places and situations with a lot of people in a relatively small space. It’s a vaccine in the arm and a mask on the face”, defends the Fiocruz scientist.

This week, the Fiocruz Covid-19 Observatory once again recommended the use of masks in closed places, with little ventilation or crowding. Use is also recommended for groups at risk of the disease, such as immunosuppressed, elderly, pregnant women and people with comorbidities.

The observatory also reinforces that the best measure of protection against the coronavirus is the vaccine and that everyone should complete the immunization scheme, including the 2nd booster dose intended for all adults over 18 years old.