The female figure behind the COVID-19 ‘antidote’ in the Brazilian national team

DBasia.news – The journey of the Brazilian national team in an effort to defend the Copa America title in the latest edition so far has been smooth. Neymar and his team mates won the group stage and got rid of Chile in the quarter-finals to advance to the semifinals.

The 2021 Copa America had sparked controversy, because after Argentina and Colombia withdrew as hosts, CONMEBOL changed the host to Brazil and this caused controversy.

Because the rate of cases of COVID-19 or the corona virus in Brazil is high. The Copa America event continued and inevitably, with high concern, the participating countries played.

Bolivia and Venezuela have the highest cases (30 cases) of the coronavirus. No doubt each federation and team has their own way of maintaining strict health protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus cases within the team.

Brazil did so too. So far there have been no cases of corona virus in Tite’s team and one of the figures who contributed greatly to being the ‘guardian angel’ of the Brazilian national team is Andreia Picanco.

The Figure Behind CBF and the Brazilian National Team

Andreia Picanco is the only woman in Brazil’s 70-man team. Picanco is a sports doctor and nutritionist. She has worked for nine years at CBF for the women’s football team and has been called up to the men’s team since the coronavirus pandemic.

Picanco’s job is to study COVID-19 cases and also control them so that there is no spread in the Brazilian team. Jose Luis Runco, a figure who contributed greatly to bringing the woman who was born in Rio de Janeiro to CBF in 2012, Runco is the former Head of the Brazilian Medical Team.

Picanco is currently in charge of preventing the spread of the corona virus within the team and following strict protocols. Since May 27, Picanco has carried out 700 examinations or tests for the corona virus.

“We work together in the commission set up by the CBF. She also takes care of referees and selection tests. It makes for great control, with everyone strictly following all the rules that are prescribed. They are all tested from bus drivers to van drivers,” said Picanco’s colleague, Andre Pedrinelli who also helped the Copa America event.

Picanco has been seen in Brazil’s squad since the 2016 Olympics when they won the gold medal and she continues to be a keeper for Brazil, even at the 2018 World Cup Picanco watched the players for 24 hours, even though at that time there was no spread of COVID-19.

Due to the strict security and regulations imposed by the Brazilian medical team, only hairdressers and those with a need can enter the ‘circle’ of the Brazilian team at the 2021 Copa America.

So far the treatment has proven to be effective. There has been no positive cases of coronavirus in the Brazilian team except for Gabriel Menino last November.

“The atmosphere of the first team (Brazil) is great and there is always mutual respect. Both from the athletes and from the Technical and Supporting Committee,” stated Picanco.

Like a superwoman who tirelessly works and carries out her duties, Andreia Picanco, assisted by other doctors in the medical team, such as Rodrigo Lasmar, continues to monitor Brazil so that the corona virus, which is still a pandemic, does not spread within the team.

“We are learning from this disease, as all doctors in the world have learned. The first call after the start of the pandemic was in October 2020. We strictly follow the protocol of testing, protective measures and monitoring of symptoms,” added Picanco.

“Together with Lasmar, we spoke and guided the technical committee members and the athletes, explaining the reasons for all the actions taken.”

“One concern is the fact that the athletes come from different places, especially from Europe. And the timing of the pandemic is different depending on the location.”

Finally, Picanco did not deny that a potential positive case of the corona virus could occur, but at that moment Picanco carried out her duties for one thing: preventing transmission within the team.

“Our goal is to avoid positive cases. It can happen, yes. But the main goal is to not have a COVID-19 outbreak in our team. And for that to happen, everyone’s understanding and participation is needed. We have achieved that goal so far,” she concluded.