Brazilians take precautions against virus after Sao Paulo case

Anxiety was growing amongst Brazilians on Thursday after the country confirmed it had recorded Latin America's first case of the new coronavirus.

A 61-year-old businessman, who had travelled to the virus-hit Lombardy region in Italy, was confirmed on Wednesday to have contracted the illness after undergoing tests at Sao Paulo's Albert Einstein Institute.

At Sao Paulo's international airport some people wore masks whilst several stores began to make hand sanitizer available.

Some airport workers also wore facial protection.

Alessandra Sampaio, who was waiting for a relative to arrive from Italy, said: "I think people need to protect themselves because I think this (the COVID 19) will spread. I think it's worrying."

Within 24 hours, the number of suspected cases jumped to 132, from 20, and government authorities said they expect the number to reach 300.

The government has already discarded dozens of suspected cases.

David Uip, Coordinator of the Coronavirus Contingency Centre in Sao Paulo, said at a press conference on Thursday the vast majority of those infected by the virus will be asymptomatic or suffer only a slight impact.

He added that people with respiratory discomfort should seek medical attention.