MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Brazil likely to have 12 times more cases of COVID-19, Universities monitoring report
Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta has said that it is difficult to distribute tests in Brazil because of the size of the country but acknowledges that testing needs to improve. 
Researchers at a consortium of Brazilian universities examined the ratio of cases resulting in deaths through Apr 10 and compared it with data on the expected death rate from the World Health Organiza Brazil likely has 12 times more cases of the new coronavirus than are being officially reported by the government, with too little testing and long waits to confirm the results, according to a study released this week.
Researchers at a consortium of Brazilian universities and institutes examined the ratio of cases resulting in deaths through Apr 10 and compared it with data on the expected death rate from the World Health Organization.
The much higher-than-expected death rate in Brazil indicates there are many more cases of the virus than are being counted, with the study estimating only 8% of cases are being officially reported.
The government has focused on testing serious cases rather than all suspected cases, according to the consortium, known as the Center for Health Operations and Intelligence. The center and medical professionals have also complained of long wait times to get test results.
Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta has said that it is difficult to distribute tests in Brazil because of the size of the country but acknowledges that testing needs to improve.
Officially, Brazil's coronavirus death toll rose to 1,588 on Tuesday, while the number of confirmed cases is more than 25,000, according to health ministry data.
As of last Thursday, Brazil had had around 127,000 suspected cases and carried out just short of 63,000 tests, ministry figures indicate. A health ministry official said more than 93,000 tests are still being processed for results.
Year to date, the number of hospitalizations for severe respiratory symptoms has been over three times higher than usual for the time of year, but only 12% of those have been confirmed as COVID-19, the severe respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus.
“The high degree of under-notification could give a false impression about control of the disease, and consequently, could lead to a decline in containment measures,” the center said.
The outbreak has stoked tension in the Brazilian government, with right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro downplaying risks of the virus and urging the country to return to normal, while his health minister, state governors and local officials urge stricter measures.
The center has thus far been accurate in predicting the evolution of the virus in Brazil, with the number of confirmed coronavirus cases through March 30 falling within the range that the researchers previously predicted.
The researchers are now predicting that by Apr 20 the number of cases will grow to some 26,000, in its most optimistic scenario and 60,413 cases in its most pessimistic.
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Read all commentsGollum's below post is just more of his BS...
Apr 17th, 2020 - 10:09 pm +2“Coronavirus: 'Undocumented explosion' spreads around Brazil
With little data available, some scientists are modelling estimates to get an idea of the real number of cases. According one group of Brazilian researchers, there could be as many as 313,000 cases in Brazil - 15 times the official number”
First, the title is “undocumented explosion”....so, if 'undocumented,' how does Ms. Katy Watson conclude it's an 'explosion ? based on a photo and the information that burials in the Vila Formosa cemetery have increased from 40 on a normal day, to about 60 ?
Second, the photo published (2 weeks ago) by the Washington Post, showing rows of open graves in the cemetery, was explained by the mayor of São Paulo....he informed that it is normal to dig plenty of graves after the rainy season, and that they have nothing to do with deaths caused by the coronavirus..
The alarmist article goes on....“With little data available,.....According one group of Brazilian researchers, there could be as many as 313,000 cases in Brazil - 15 times the official number”.....
So there is “little data available”, however enough for Ms Watson to believe “there could be as many as 313,000 cases in Brazil”...
Well, while there might be some sub-notification of deaths by coronavirus due to the fact they aren't able to test everyone, but if there is any truth in these numbers, TODAY, I'd just like to know where the 313,000 cases are....they aren't in hospitals, because we know they don't have that capacity to treat the virus - so, how are they being counted ?
And funny, how come the main media outlets haven't reported this ?
Sounds like speculation.
But Gollum, as we all well know, publishes 'anything' he believes will look bad for Brazil's current anti-left governments (both Federal and State of SP), and might make the PT, and Lula the opportunist crook that ruined Brazil 5 years ago, look less worse than in fact they are.
Well Bolsonaro always wanted looked up to Trump (or is it down? LOL)
Apr 17th, 2020 - 11:15 am +1But who knew he would be so good at being such a terrible president?
If you note the timeline is of this comment thread, I was attacked before I even made a comment...
Apr 17th, 2020 - 04:05 pm +1...I would also note that I have made no further revelations about the public Canadian Crown Court records of a notorious criminal either; so one needs to question the mental instabilities of a specific mendacious troll...
One proven healthy, delicious and nutritious remedy is enjoying avocado toast to reduce stress...
(By the way, why does Gollum constantly fixate about Brazilian toliet facilities?)
¡Salud!
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