COVID-19 in Brazil: advantages of a socialized unified health system and preparation to contain cases

Abstract

The outbreak of new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported for the first time in Wuhan, China in late December 2019 have rapidly spread to other countries and it was declared on January 30, 2020 as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization. Before the first COVID-19 cases were reported in Brazil, several measures have been implemented including the adjustment of legal framework to carry out isolation and quarantine. As the cases increased significantly, new measures, mainly to reduce mortality and severe cases, have also been implemented. Rapid and robust preparedness actions have been undertaken in Brazil while first cases have not yet been identified in Latin-American. The outcome of this early preparation should be analyzed in future studies.

FIGURE 1:. Evolution of the Coronavirus emergency and response from the Braziliam Ministry of Health (Adapatated from: https://www.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/fevereiro/04/Boletim-epidemiologico-SVS-04fev20.pdf )

*1st Epidemiological Bulletin: International monitoring event in Chin. ( https://portalarquivos2.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/janeiro/15/Boletim-epidemiologico-SVS-01.pdf ) 1. http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2020/lei/L13979.htm 2. http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2020/decreto/D10211.htm 3. Relates to measures for dealing with the public health emergency of international importance resulting from the coronavirus responsible for the 2019 outbreak ( http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2020/lei/L13979 ). 4. https://portalarquivos2.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/fevereiro/13/Boletim-epidemiologico-COEcorona-SVS-13fev20.pdf 5. https://portalarquivos2.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/fevereiro/11/operacao-regresso-11fev-b.pdf 6. https://www.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/fevereiro/21/2020-02-21-Boletim-Epidemiologico03.pdf 7. Treatment Protocol ( https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/bitstream/icict/40195/2/Protocolo_Tratamento_Covid19.pdf ) 8. https://www.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/marco/04/2020-03-02-Boletim-Epidemiol--gico-04-corrigido.pdf 9. Relates to the regulation and operationalization of the provisions of Law No. 13,979, of February 6th, 2020, which establishes the measures to overcome the public health emergency of international importance resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19) ( http://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/portaria-n-356-de-11-de-marco-de-2020-247538346 ) 10. Establishes guidelines for the bodies and entities of the Civil Personnel System of the Federal Public Administration - SIPEC, regarding the protection measures for overcoming the public health emergency of international importance resulting from the coronavirus (COVID-19). http://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/instrucao-normativa-n-19-de-12-de-marco-de-2020-247802008 ) 11. https://www.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/marco/24/03--ERRATA---Boletim-Epidemiologico-05.pdf 12. Amends the Normative Ruling No. 19 ( http://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/instrucao-normativa-n-20-de-13-de-marco-de-2020-247887393 ) 13. Amends the Normative Ruling No. 19 ( http://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/instrucao-normativa-n-21-de-16-de-marco-de-2020-248328867 ) 14. Establishes guidelines for the bodies and entities of the Civil Personnel System of the Federal Public Administration - SIPEC, regarding the protection measures to overcome the public health emergency of international importance resulting from COVID-19, related to the process of re-registering retirees, pensioners and civilian politicians ( http://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/instrucao-normativa-n-22-de-17-de-marco-de-2020-248564245 ) 15. Memo MH Nº 114- Coronavirus and risk in patients with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Diseases ( https://www.saude.gov.br/images/pdf/2020/marco/19/SEI-MS---0014038615---Nota-Informativa.pdf ) 16. Two clinical trials are approved to assess the effectiveness of chloroquine in critically ill patients ( https://conselho.saude.gov.br/images/BOLETIM_EP_EdEspecialCoronavirus_23marco2020.pdf ) 17. Establishes guidelines for the bodies and entities of the Civil Personnel System of the Federal Public Administration - SIPEC, regarding the authorization for extraordinary service, the granting of transport assistance, night allowances and occupational allowances to public servants and employees who perform their activities remotely or who are away from their face-to-face activities, under the terms of Normative Ruling No. 19, of March 12th, 2020, and to take other measures ( http://www.in.gov.br/en/web/dou/-/instrucao-normativa-n-28-de-25-de-marco-de-2020-249807751 ) 18. Chloroquine as an adjunct therapy in the treatment of critically-ill patients. ( https://12ad4c92-89c7-4218-9e11-0ee136fa4b92.filesusr.com/ugd/3293a8_49de9bf961b846708f91cb03dfe076bc.pdf )