The State Department of Health of São Paulo informed this Tuesday (30), that the first two imported cases of the Ômicron variant of the new coronavirus in Brazil were confirmed. The confirmation was made using the genetic sequencing technique by the laboratory of the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, in São Paulo.
The two cases are from a 41-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman who came from South Africa. Both tested positive in molecular diagnostic tests (RT PCR), considered the most accurate for viral detection.
According to information from the anchor of the CNN Kenzô Machida, the couple is already in home isolation, has mild symptoms of Covid-19 and has no history of vaccination.
According to the Municipal Health Department of São Paulo (SMS), the couple resides in South Africa and is visiting Brazil. Both arrived in Brazil on the 23rd, through Guarulhos International Airport, and tested positive for Covid-19.
The test material was collected at the Albert Einstein Hospital laboratory located at Guarulhos International Airport. The initial examination was carried out on November 25, when they both had mild symptoms.
According to the São Paulo State Department of Health, the quality of the tests was assessed and certified by Instituto Adolfo Lutz, a regional reference in Covid-19.
The couple was instructed to remain in isolation at home after the positive diagnosis for Covid-19, and remain under monitoring by state and municipal surveillance in São Paulo, as well as family members.
At this moment, health teams are at the patients’ homes and the SMS investigates the possible contacts of both so that it is possible to immediately track and monitor everyone, in addition to verifying the family’s vaccination status
Another case under investigation
The health department also informed that the case reported to state surveillance on Sunday (28), of a passenger originating in Ethiopia, is still being analyzed by the Adolfo Lutz Institute.
The passenger had no symptoms and, having visited South Africa, he sought testing at Guarulhos airport. The man has remained in isolation in the city since disembarking, being monitored by the city’s surveillance.
According to the secretariat, the responsibility for monitoring at airports rests with Anvisa and, so far, the federal government does not require proof of vaccination against Covid-19 from foreign travelers for entry into the country.
Reference: CNN Brasil
