Pharmacies predict further escalation in positive Covid test – 02/01/2023 – Panel SA

The large drugstore chains predict a further escalation in the registration of positive cases in Covid tests in January, according to Abrafarma (which brings together the largest pharmacies in the country).

The new survey with the most recent data, from December, points to an increase above 70% in comparison with November. There were more than 150 thousand cases detected by pharmacies in the last month of 2022. The number is 19 times the result of October, according to Abrafarma.

The incidence of positives in the total of pharmacy tests rose from the level of 13% in October to almost 35% in December, therefore, above the historical average. Since the service began to be offered by pharmaceutical retailers in April 2020, there have been more than 20 million tests, approximately 24% of which are positive.

“The number of patients was discharged by 60% [em dezembro], well below the 72% increase in cases, which represents a serious warning sign for the resilience of the disease. Store inventory remains high to absorb this demand”, says Sergio Mena Barreto, CEO of Abrafarma, in a note.

Joana Cunha with Paulo Ricardo Martins and Diego Felix

PRESENT LINK: Did you like this text? Subscriber can release five free hits of any link per day. Just click the blue F below.