COVID-19: Another 10,503 people infected, 615 deaths

Brazil has reached a new record number of deaths and cases confirmed of COVID-19 in 24 hours—10,503 people infected, and 615 new deaths between Tuesday and Wednesday. Patients recovered number 51,370. The update was disclosed Wednesday (May 6).

Altogether, the country reached 125,218 confirmed cases of COVID-19, up nine percent from the previous day, when 114,715 people were in this condition. Of this total, 65,312 (52.2%) are reported to be monitored, 51,370 (41%) have recovered, as they no longer run symptoms. Deaths being investigated amount to 1,643.

The total death toll stood at 8,536, up nine percent from Tuesday, when 7,921 obits had been registered. The lethality rate is now 6.8 percent.

São Paulo is still the epicenter of the pandemic in the country, as it concentrates the largest number of deaths (3,045), followed by Rio de Janeiro (1,205), Ceará (848), Pernambuco (803), and Amazonas (751). Deaths are also reported in all of the remaining 22 Brazilian states.

“We see there’s no falling line for Brazil. We’re going to have to continue working and to increase precautions. But the approach in each region depends on the local figures. The strategy in each location must be based on the evolution,” Health Minister Nelson Teich told journalists during a meeting on the updated numbers of COVID-19.

Lockdown

Nelson Teich said that the ministry has devised new guidelines for the definition of forms of social distancing, adding that a dialog is being sought with state and municipal secretaries so that social distancing may be announced as a joint initiative. He once again showed concern about possible criticism against the government.

“It’s important to understand that there is no such thing as advocating for social distancing or no social distancing. We’ll have to have simple measures, like washing hands, small distancing, all the way to a complete lockdown. What matters is, each location has its own needs. Today, we have states and cities mapping it out,” he argued.