Covid-19: The two new cases announced were diagnosed by private laboratory, samples sent to Portugal

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Covid-19: The two new cases announced were diagnosed by private laboratory, samples sent to Portugal

1:30 CAT | 26 Mar 2020

Photo: /covid19.ins.gov.mz

The number of covid-19 infections reported by authorities in Mozambique has risen from three to five. “To date, 77 suspected cases have been tested at the National Health Institute, of which ten were conducted in the last 24 hours. Of the new suspected cases tested by the National Health Institute, the ten were negative. However, taking into account this mobility for testing in the private sector, we have this register of two positive cases which were tested at the Joaquim Chaves Laboratory, which is conducted in Portugal. For this reason, we have today, as a result of this process, five cumulative cases of coronavirus in Mozambique,” the Ministry of Health announced yesterday.

ALSO READ: Mozambique: Number of Covid- 19 infections rises from three to five

“These new cases, like the previous ones, are in isolation at home,” Health Minister Armindo Tiago told a press conference at the Ministry of Health in Maputo.

The two new Mozambique cases were diagnosed by the private laboratory in Portugal from samples sent from their branch in Maputo.

The Mozambican Minister of Health said that the authorities identified a total of 61 people who had had contact with the five patients and this group was also in home quarantine. “These new cases, like the previous ones, are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, and for that reason, using the WHO criteria, they are in isolation at home,” Minister Tiago said. The minister declined to indicate how many contacts Patient Zero had had, but indicated that for the five positive cases there were “a cumulative total of 61 contacts that must be followed up to ascertain whether they were direct or indirect contacts”.

ALSO READ: Mozambique has the capacity to conduct 10 tests per day but plans to increase it – report

According to Health authorities, the fourth person infected with Covid-19 in Mozambique is a male of Mozambican nationality over 30 years of age and residing in the city of Maputo, who returned from Portugal, having made a stopover in Austria and Switzerland, in the first half of March.

The fifth person infected by Covid-19 is also a male of Mozambican nationality over 30 years of age and residing in the city of Maputo , who returned from a trip to Dubai, having made a stopover in South Africa, also in the first half of March.

Covidaact — *Source: covid19.ins.gov.mz , on 26 March 2020, at 2h35m p.m.*

Two private laboratories carry out testing using the methods recommended by WHO – minister

The Minister of Health further clarified that his department had “made an assessment of capacity and noted with satisfaction that two private laboratories carry out testing using the methods recommended by the World Health Organisation”. According to £Verdade, there are 27 suspected cases tested in private laboratories still waiting for the results.

Minister Tiago also issued preventative recommendation for all citizens.

“Many people are complaining that there is no alcohol in the market (nor hand sanitising gel),” he said. “Out prevention measures must be related to what is possible and available on our market and can be used as a disinfection material. The use of bleach in a concentration that we will provide in technical terms for easy and homemade preparation, can be a less costly solution, but above all more available.”

“As we have always said, our main focus should be on prevention, which, in the light of international experience, is the greatest element of our response,” the minister pointed out, adding that the country could still respond adequately, because it had a small number of infections.

ALSO READ: At worst, Covid-19 could wreck Mozambican health system – AIM report

The Mozambican government has reinforced security measures in the country, suspending the issuing of entry and exit visas and closing schools for 30 days to prevent the spread of the disease.

The coronavirus responsible for the Covid-19 pandemic has already infected nearly 428,000 people worldwide, of whom more than 19,000 have died.

After emerging in China in December, the outbreak spread worldwide, prompting the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare a pandemic situation.

The African continent has recorded 64 deaths from 2,300 cases of infection.

Source: Lusa / A Verdade