Brazil’s Ministry of Health confirmed the first imported case of the new coronavirus (Covid-19) in the state of Bahia. Up to Friday (Mar. 6), the country reported nine cases, most in São Paulo.

The patient in Bahia is a 34-year-old woman who lives in Feira do Santana. She returned from Italy on February 25 after visiting Milan and Rome and is now at home with no symptoms and was advised to remain isolated.

Imported Covid-19

The patient was treated and had her samples extracted at a private hospital in the capital Salvador. The test confirming the diagnosis was carried out by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), in Rio de Janeiro.

“It’s an imported case. The patient was infected in Europe and showed symptoms after she came to Brazil. This is different from becoming contaminated in the state, and therefore all contention measures to ensure other people were not infected are being taken by state and municipal authorities,” said State Health secretary Fábio Vilas-Boas.

Figures

After the case was confirmed in Bahia, the country now has nine cases of Covid-19, six of which in São Paulo, one in Rio de Janeiro, and one in Espírito Santo.

One case in the Federal Districts awaits confirmation from an institution credited by the Health Ministry. She is a 53-year-old woman who went to England and Switzerland.