Covid eruption in Brazil's largest state leaves health workers begging for help
Governor of Amazonas says situation critical as alarming details emerge about breakdown of health system in state capital Manaus
Health workers in Brazil’s largest state are begging for help and oxygen supplies after an explosion of Covid deaths and infections that one official compared to a tsunami and said could be linked to a new variant.
Amazonas, and particularly its riverside capital Manaus, were pummeled by the epidemic’s first wave last April, when authorities were forced to dig mass graves for victims.
But at a press conference on Thursday, the state governor, Wilson Lima, admitted the situation was now even more dramatic and declared an immediate 7pm to 6am curfew to slow the outbreak.
“We are facing the most critical moment of the pandemic, something unprecedented in the state of Amazonas,” Lima told reporters as he announced the restriction.
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Why are we so worried about this one? Because like the SA B1351 variant, this new one also has the E484K mutation. In a recent study by
@jbloom_lab
, E484 mutation (inside the #SARSCoV2’s spike’s critical receptor binding domain) seemed to escape neutralizing antibodies—badLeave a comment:
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In a further post it is quoted that up to 76% of Manaus population had already been infected with Covid-19 in the first wave. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ronavirus.html Very sad article from April 2020.The Brazil Manaus #COVID19 epidemic is getting epically worse. And many scientists suspect it might be because of the new Brazil P1 variant of #SARSCoV2, which has many multiple mutations.Leave a comment:
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Brazil hospitals 'run out of oxygen' for virus patients in Manaus as hundreds wait for beds - COVID19 epidemic worsening. Because of the new Brazil P1 variant of SARSCoV2? January 15, 2021
Brazil hospitals 'run out of oxygen' for virus patients in Manaus as hundreds wait for beds
Patients in Manaus are consuming 70,000 cubic metres of oxygen per day, more than double the amount from the peak of the first wave
Covid-19: Brazil variant already in UK, scientist says
One of two coronavirus variants thought to have emerged in Brazil has been detected in the UK, says a leading scientist advising the government.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/t...%20the%20UK%20.The variant of concern is distinct from those which emerged in Kent, in the UK, and in South Africa, but shares some key mutations.
Changes to the virus are thought to make it better at attaching to human cells, and therefore more infectious.
Travellers from South America were banned from entering the UK on Friday.
Travel from South American destinations, Portugal, Panama and Cape Verde banned to prevent spread of new variant
New travel restrictions from 4am Friday 15 January on passengers arriving in the UK from South American destinations, Portugal, Panama and Cape Verde.
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