Brewery donates alcohol to virus-stricken hospitals

In Brazil, the largest brewery of Latin America and one of the largest in the world moved to produce alcohol to donate to hospitals and public institutions working to combat the new coronavirus.

Ambev and one of its partner companies, are producing gel hand sanitizer and alcohol liquid at 70%, to contribute in the health crisis due to the new coronavirus.

The alcohol removed from the beer that is sold as "Beer 0.0" (it is beer without alcohol) is partially used to produce gel alcohol and liquid alcohol, products that disappear from the shelves of the pharmacies and even from the health units that are now in the front line against the virus.

To solve the problem of lack of packaging for this kind of product, the factory is using small plastic bottles normally used for its alcoholic drinks (not for beer).

The alcohol will be donated and distributed in hospitals, universities, police and other public institutions in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and other cities.

The lack of medical supplies is a problem not just for the Brazilian citizens but for the government. Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta told journalists in Brasilia on Wednesday that he was concerned about the lack of masks, protective equipment, breathing machines and other basic supplies needed in the health system to deal with the crisis.

He said that part of Brazil's purchases to in China were canceled after the United States sent 23 planes to pick up medical supplies from China. Mandetta criticized the fact that one country produces most of the items needed to deal with the crisis. He also requested the population to stay home to avoid the spread of the disease.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.