Number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Brazil soar to second in the world - Hybribio's technology to help Brazil fight the epidemic
According to the latest data released by the Brazilian Ministry of Health on the evening of the 28th local time, Brazil new confirmed 26,417 cases of COVID-19 in a single day, a cumulative total of 438,238 confirmed cases, becoming the world's second country with more than 400,000 confirmed cases.
The spread of novel coronavirus is exacerbated by the gradual entry of winter in the southern hemisphere. With the number of confirmed and fatal cases still increasing significantly, the epidemic in Brazil is a cause for concern. The Spanish media pointed out that Brazilian authorities and researchers have yet to find a way tackling the problem since two months ago, when social distancing was implemented. On the other hand, inadequate testing is also the main reason why Brazil is in the current predicament.
The epidemic has hit S?o Paulo, a southeastern Brazilian city, hard and the city is considered the "epicentre" of the epidemic in Brazil. Since mid-May, the government of S?o Paulo, Brazil, has begun nucleic acid testing for suspected mild cases of COVID-19 and expected to complete 145,000 tests within 20 days.
In order to ensure the availability of adequate testing reagents for large-scale screening, the government of S?o Paulo previously purchased a new batch of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing reagents from Hybribio, as well as its associated extraction reagents and instruments. The kits were tested at Brazil's Central Public Health Laboratory and the results were all very good, as reported earlier by local Brazilian magazine VEJA, " The result of reagents can be obtained in about 90 minutes with an accuracy of more than 99%." The reagents and the associated instruments have been registered with the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and became the main testing tools for the large-scale screening of SARS-CoV-2 specimens by the Associa??o Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa (AFIP), the largest laboratory in South America, has established for more than 40 years and locates on eight continents in Brazil, with a focus on public health services, scientific research and community health services.
Previously, S?o Paulo only tested for nucleic acid in severe cases or for health sector workers. The expansion of test scope not only allows for quarantine as soon as possible but also will provide more data for surveillance of the outbreak in Brazil. Hybribio hopes to help Brazil overcome its difficulties as soon as possible with our efficient testing tools, to safeguard public health and safety through practical actions, and to protect the health of people around the world with innovative technology.