So far, 201 suspected cases of the Ômicron variant are being investigated in the state of Rio de Janeiro, according to the health department. Most of the samples (159) were collected in the basic health units of the municipalities and the genetic sequencing will be carried out by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz).
The results of these samples should be ready by January 7th. Only two cases of the Ômicron variant have been confirmed statewide. One of them in the capital and the other in the municipality of Nilópolis, in Baixada Fluminense.
Suspected cases are patients from 12 municipalities in Rio de Janeiro, including the city of Rio de Janeiro, where 94 cases are being investigated, according to the latest update from the city. The only regions where no suggestive samples of the new variant were found are the Northwest and the Center-South.
In these areas, the state Epidemiological Surveillance will carry out an active search for PCR samples to check for any suspected cases.
Experts consulted by CNN predict an explosion of Covid-19 cases in the coming weeks. To CNN, the Fiocruz researcher, Margareth Dalcomo, stated that due to the advance of the new variant in many Brazilian capitals, it is expected that many cases will be confirmed in the coming days, especially due to the crowds during the holiday season. According to Dalcomo, despite the new variant having greater transmissibility, lethality is lower.
According to the City of Rio, the positive rate of tests for Covid-19 rose from 0.7% to 5.5% in the last week. Given this scenario, the municipal health department already considers that there is community transmission of the Ômicron variant in the city. In addition to Rio de Janeiro, there is also community transmission of the new strain in São Paulo and Porto Alegre.
Across the country, there are already 430 confirmed cases of Ômicron in at least 9 states (SP, RS, GO, MG, RJ, SC, ES, TO and CE) and in the Federal District. Another 630 cases are being investigated.
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Reference: CNN Brasil
