Brazil blocks northern cities due to the spread of mutant virus

Applied from February 1 to the border between Para-Amazonas

(Source: Bloomberg Communications)

[아시아경제 조유진 기자] In Brazil, where there are around 60,000 new corona19 confirmed cases a day, a mutant virus outbreak has imposed a city blockade in some northern regions.

On the 30th (local time), Governor Euder Barvalho of northern Para state said, “As the virus spreads in neighboring Amazonas states, a blockade will be enforced from 0 o’clock on February 1 in the area bordering the two states.” Revealed.

In a video message, Governor Barvalho said, “For the health of the residents, we have decided to change the level of Corona 19 in the border region of Parazu-Amazonas from red (high risk) to black (blockade).”

In the cities of Para state, close to Amazonas, the public health system has virtually collapsed due to the recent rapid increase in COVID-19 inpatients, leading to a shortage of intensive care units and lack of medical oxygen.

Health authorities are also tense as the possibility that the mutant virus that appeared in the city of Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas state, will spread across the country is growing.

Luis Enhiki Mandeta, who served as the first health minister of President Zaire Bolsonaro’s government, said in a TV interview on the 28th that the virus, which was first discovered in Manaus, could spread across Brazil within 60 days and could enter the pandemic stage.

Former Minister Mandeta said the mutant virus could spread rapidly as a patient with Corona 19 in Manaus City was moved to another area because of the lack of beds.

Based on data from the Ministry of Health of Brazil, the number of corona19 cumulative confirmed cases up to the previous day was 9,187,513, and the cumulative death was 22,666.

Reporter Jo Yu-jin [email protected]