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Brazilian President Bolsonaro initially dismissed Covid-19 as “little flu.” But the coronavirus is becoming increasingly violent in the largest country in South America. And apparently much longer than previously thought.
The crown crisis is becoming increasingly devastating in Brazil: on Tuesday, authorities reported a record 881 new deaths in 24 hours. So far, according to official information, 12,400 people have died as a result of the viral disease. Brazil has now overtaken Germany in the total number of infections. According to a new study, the virus has spread in the South American country for longer than previously thought.
The number of confirmed infections in Brazil increased by another 9,258 on Tuesday to a total of 177,589. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin reported on Wednesday the number of people infected in Germany with 171,306, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) based in Baltimore reported 173,171 infected. This places Brazil in seventh place in infections after the United States, Russia, Spain, Great Britain, Italy and France.
Virus made the rounds before the carnival
According to the scientific study, the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread in the largest country in South America before this year’s carnival, and therefore before the first publication of an infection in the country. The spread began around the first week of February, according to the study published Tuesday by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, the country’s main health institute.
Brazilian President Bolsonaro: First, he minimized the threat, now invaded by the Corona wave. (Source: Eraldo Peres / dpa)
Thus, the spread of the pathogen began more than 20 days before the infection was first diagnosed in the country with a return from Italy. Her case was only announced shortly after the carnival.
The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation’s research is based on the analysis of statistics. The researchers calculated the period of early spread of the virus in the country based on crown death numbers.
Bolsonaro ignored the danger.
The study raises concerns that there may be significantly more cases of infection in Brazil than official statistics show. Carnival in Brazil takes millions of people to the streets every year to celebrate and it is an important economic factor in the country. Even before the study was published, experts anticipated a large number of unreported infections because the country does not have sufficient resources to conduct tests.
Protest of caregivers in Brasilia: with candles and signs in their hands, they remember the doctors who died during the pandemic. (Source: Eraldo Peres / AP / dpa)
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is accused of minimizing the crown crisis in his country. In the past, the right-wing head of state called the Covid-19 lung disease caused by the coronavirus “small flu”: he repeatedly criticized state-imposed corona restrictions for their negative effects on the economy.
The head of state is currently under great pressure due to his handling of the crown pandemic. According to a new survey conducted by the MDA institute, 55.4 percent of Brazilians now reject the president’s policy. 67 percent support the restrictions imposed by the governors.
