Post-Covid-19 research evaluates sequelae of the disease; Montes Claros is among the 13 participating municipalities in MG | Grande Minas

The Ministry of Health reported that it has started the second phase of data collection from “Epicovid 2.0: National survey to assess the real dimension of the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil”.

13 municipalities in Minas Gerais participate in the research, Montes Claros is among them. 250 residents from each of the cities will be interviewed.

The other cities are Belo Horizonte, Teófilo Otoni, Governador Valadares, Ipatinga, Juiz de Fora, Barbacena, Varginha, Pouso Alegre, Uberaba, Uberlândia, Patos de Minas and Divinópolis.

According to the Ministry, the objective is to collect data to support the creation of public policies aimed at treating so-called post-Covid conditions (long Covid), which are the sequelae of the disease.

“Epicovid 2.0 is part of the work to strengthen Covid-19 monitoring, which the Ministry of Health has been carrying out since May 2023”, explains the Secretary of Health and Environmental Surveillance (SVSA), Ethel Maciel.

According to the secretary, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 20% of people, regardless of the severity of the disease, develop post-covid conditions.

According to epidemiologist Pedro Hallal, who will coordinate the study, the expectation is that the data collection period last between 15 and 20 days.

“Epicovid 2.0 is a new phase of the study that began in 2020. Although we are no longer under a serious pandemic like we had, the virus continues in society and its effects on people’s lives as well. This is now our target, to understand the impact of the disease on the lives of Brazilian people and families”, he explains.

Epicovid 2.0 dynamics

The research will use information from 250 residents from each of the municipalities that have already taken part in the four previous rounds of scientific work, in 2020 and 2021.

To do this, teams of interviewers will visit homes to listen to residents about questions focused on points such as: vaccination, history of coronavirus infection, long-lasting symptoms and the effects of the disease on daily life.

All participants will be selected randomly, by draw.

Only one person per household will respond to the questionnaire. Hallal clarifies that, unlike the first stages of the research, in the current one there will not be any type of blood collection or other Covid test.

In addition to the Ministry of Health and UFPel, the Catholic University of Pelotas (UCPel), Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) and Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) are directly involved in the study.

To assist with the process of publicizing and clarifying the population, the city halls of the 133 cities involved in the study across the country were notified of the work, through their municipal health departments, and participated in an online meeting with Pedro Hallal and members of the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry’s guidance is that, in case of doubts, residents should contact their city hall.

The LGA company can also be contacted via telephones (31) 3335-1777 and (31) 99351-2430.

First phases of the study

Between 2020 and 2021, Epicovid-19 served to paint a picture of the pandemic that helped scientists and public health authorities better understand the effects and spread of the coronavirus in the country. Among the main conclusions, the study pointed out that the number of people infected at that time was three times greater than official data, with the poorest 20% having twice the risk of infection compared to the richest 20% of Brazilians.