By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The Brazil Ministry of Health (MOH) is registering nearly a half-million coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19 cases (498,440) through Saturday.
Officials report approximately 40 percent of those infected (200,000) have recovered and the country has recorded 28,834 deaths.
The MOH says the Central Public Health Laboratories (LACEN) has increased testing capacity significantly since March.
Through Friday, LACEN have carried out 485,000 RT-PCR (molecular biology) tests for COVID-19.
The country increased the testing capacity for the disease in the public health system by 451%. The daily average of RT-PCR exams, which in March was 1,689, increased to 7,624 this May.
The proportion of tests performed in relation to those requested in the country is 71.2%. This is because many Public Health Laboratories have been operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the dedication of thousands of professionals. For the deputy secretary of Health Surveillance, Eduardo Macário, the public health laboratory network has given an effective response in relation to the exams for COVID-19. “In Brazil, about 59% of the tests requested have the result ready in approximately two days,” he said.
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