Butantan Institute director: Brazil plight to be gauged in next weeks

Dimas Covas, director at the Butantan Institute and a member of the Coronavirus Contingency Committee, said the magnitude of the COVID-19 epidemic in the country will be measured in the coming weeks.

“In the next two to three weeks we’ll be able to ascertain the exact size of this epidemic. We’re seeing its beginning and we’ll learn [in the coming weeks] whether we’re facing an Everest or a foothill,” he declared Friday (Apr. 3).

The governor of São Paulo—the state with the highest number of cases (4,620) and deaths (275)—also talked about the aggravation of the scenario. João Doria said April will be a month of much sadness for Brazilians.

“Sadly, we’re in the toughest month, the most severe, most difficult, of the coronavirus crisis. It will be a month of sad news for Brazilians. We must be aware of this and acknowledge that this will be the most difficult month in our crisis. This is based on scientific foundations,” the governor said, also on Friday, in one of his daily interviews. This is why, he added, it is important to observe social distancing. “Stay at home,” he stressed.