Positive covid tests rise to 23.6% in one month

By the end of March, the positivity index had dropped to 3.6%, indicating a possible improvement in the pandemic.

The percentage of positive tests for covid-19 rose from 8.5% to 23.6% in one month in the country, according to a survey carried out by the Todos pela Saúde Institute (ITpS). By the end of March, the positivity index had dropped to 3.6%, indicating a possible improvement in the pandemic.

According to the analysis, the indicators are now on the rise in all age groups and in the six states analyzed by the researchers. The rate of positive tests for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which can lead to serious conditions in children and the elderly, remains above 17%.

The survey by ITpS, a non-profit organization that aims to help tackle health emergencies, analyzed 221,600 molecular tests (RT-PCR and Flowchip) carried out from February 1st to May 14th by the private laboratories Dasa, DB Molecular and HLAGyn : 95% of them were collected in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the country.

The percentage of positivity in the country, which had dropped to 3.6% at the end of March and rose to 8.5% a month ago (in the week up to April 16), changed to 23.6% in the week that followed. ended on the 14th of May. The scenario may indicate a possible increase in cases in the country, which has made some cities recommend the use of a protective mask. This Thursday, 19, 10,000 new cases of covid were recorded in the country.

In two weeks (April 30th to May 14th), the positivity of tests for SARS-CoV-2 rose in the six states analyzed by ITpS: São Paulo (from 14% to 24%), Rio de Janeiro (from 11% to 23%), Minas Gerais (from 8% to 23%), Mato Grosso (from 6% to 19%), Goiás (from 3% to 19%) and Distrito Federal (from 3% to 11%).

Regarding positivity by age group, there was also a general increase in the period, especially for people aged 10 to 19 (from 13% to 25%), from 50 to 59 (17% to 31%) and 70 to 79 ( from 13% to 29%).

The molecular tests carried out by the laboratories identify, in addition to SARS-CoV-2, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza viruses A and B. In the week of May 7 to 14, 95.9% of positive tests showed SARS -CoV-2, 3.7% RSV and 0.4% influenza.

The VSR positivity rate remains above 17%. This virus causes common colds in all age groups and can lead to serious infections in children and the elderly. In the week of May 7-14, 41.6% of all positive RSV cases were detected among children aged 0-9 years, the main age group affected by the virus.

Autumn and winter are considered the most favorable times for the proliferation of the respiratory syncytial virus. Because they are colder and drier seasons, it is more common to observe an increase in children hospitalized with bronchiolitis and pneumonia in these periods. In material published this week, Estadão gathered tips to reduce the risks of children being contaminated by the virus.

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