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Pacaembu Stadium joins Brazil’s coronavirus effort

São Paulo’s Pacaembu Stadium has joined a number of other Brazilian venues by transforming into a hospital to treat patients with coronavirus.

The Associated Press news agency reports that the stadium, which has a capacity of 45,000, will house more than 200 beds for patients with minor cases of coronavirus. The converted hospital is expected to be operational within 10 days.

Last week, a number of Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A clubs, including Corinthians, Santos and São Paulo, united to offer up their stadia and training facilities to the effort to combat coronavirus.

Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracanã stadium is among the other venues that has been converted into a hospital amid the rising number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Brazil. The stadium, which staged the 2014 World Cup final, is used as a host venue for Flamengo, Fluminense and the Brazilian national team.

The AP notes that “almost all” stadia used during Brazil’s staging of the 2014 FIFA World Cup have been offered up as part of the efforts to combat coronavirus. It comes after the domestic club season was suspended following the outbreak.

The Pacaembu Stadium is used to host football matches and also serves as the home of Brazil’s national rugby team.

As of yesterday (Monday), Brazil had more than 1,600 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 25 deaths.

Elsewhere, Welsh Pro14 rugby union team Scarlets has announced that it will be able to provide extra beds during the coronavirus pandemic if needed following discussions with Carmarthenshire County Council.

The club said that various locations within its Parc y Scarlets stadium will be converted for NHS use over the coming days, including the Juno Moneta Indoor Arena exhibition venue.

The council is working with the health authority to put up hundreds of additional beds if they are required. Contractors have been commissioned to convert spaces at Carmarthen Leisure Centre and the Selwyn Samuel Centre as well as Parc y Scarlets.

Image: Rodrigo Soldon