Federal Government entered into special contracts for purchase of health and medical products and hiring of health services intended to treat patients with Covid-19.The intention of the Federal Government was to reduce bureaucracy in the public sector for purchasing goods from the private sector, so the measures for combating Covid-19 are more effective.
The Ministry of Health has created a specific website with up-to-date information regarding a broad range of data about Covid-19, such as information about the virus, prevention measures, number of infected people across the country, general recommendation to the population, supplying of medical equipment and health products etc.
Public call made by the Federal Government aimed at the purchase of 35.3 million personal protective equipment (PPE) to be supplied to public hospitals and health units across the country.
Purchase by the Federal Government of 10 million Covid-19 testing devices. The plan is to acquire 46.2 Million testing devices in total.
BRL 2.3 million investment by the Federal Government for providing psychological support to the workers from the health system who are in the front line dealing with Covid-19.The psychological impact for medical and health workers during this pandemic is potentially significant, so the Federal Government is acting to help workers of the Brazilian health system to maintain their mental health.
Resolution n. 314/2020, issued on April 20, 2020, to (i) suspend procedural deadlines of administrative, federal and state courts (with the exception of Federal Supreme Court and Electoral Court); and (ii) regulate that servants/judges/others shall work from home.The suspension of the deadlines and recommendation that people work from home to reduce the number of people circulating in the cities are probably positive. But there are no official results about such measures.The resolution that determined that servants/judges/others shall work from home is positive to contain COVID-19. However, those measures impacted, negatively, the economy because it reduced attorneys work (for example, the hearings are not occurring, so the attorneys have no work during this period). Also, despite the fact that the servants/judges are working remotely, some Courts are not working at the same pace which impacts those who are awaiting a court order/decision.
Increase in credit lines: state-owned Federal Savings Banks (Caixa), Banco do Brasil, and the National Development Bank (BNDES) announced several measures, such as an increase in credit lines to small-and medium-sized firms aimed at working capital. The banks have also cut interest rates and in some cases offered clients a grace period of 90 days for payment.The objective is to inject money in the financial system and stimulate the economy. Caixa estimates to extend in R$ 108 billion (or US$21.6 billion) its credit lines. The Banco do Brasil increased in R$ 100 billion (or US$ 20 billion) its credit lines. The National Development Bank (BNDES) suspended the amortizations of R$ 19 billion (US$ 3.8 billion) loans for direct operations and R$ 11 billion (US$ 2.2 billion) for indirect operations. The Bank is studying a new emergency credit line of R$ 40 billion (US$ 8 billion) to micro, small and medium companies.
Students from medical and nursing schools are being called upon to act to combat Covid-19.The intention of the Government is to increase the number of medical and health workers for combating Covid-19 due to a spike in number of patients.
Tax exemption for Excise Tax on the sale of health products and equipment for the treatment of Covid-19.Tax exemption will reduce the price of the equipment and products.
Tax exemption for Import Tax for the importTax exemption will reduce the price of the equipment and products.
