Coronavirus: Brazil Reports Over 1,000 Deaths
Source: BBC News
Brazil has become the first country in the southern hemisphere to surpass 1,000 deaths with coronavirus. The health ministry confirmed 1,056 deaths and 19,638 cases. The numbers are likely to be much higher as only patients at hospitals are being tested.
Most states have imposed quarantine measures but President Jair Bolsonaro has challenged the restrictions, saying they needlessly harm the economy. Officials say the outbreak is not expected to peak for a few weeks yet. * Why coronavirus is a class issue in South America * Favela 'presidents' fight Bolsonaro's virus claims
There is growing concern that the virus could spiral out of control, especially in poorer areas like favelas, crowded neighbourhoods where social distancing is hard to achieve and basic sanitation is lacking, the BBC's Katy Watson in So Paulo reports.There are also fears that Brazil's indigenous communities could be devastated by an outbreak. Experts say they are more vulnerable because they have fewer natural defences to external diseases.
Earlier this week, an indigenous teenager died in hospital in the northern state of Roraima, becoming the first officially confirmed death of an indigenous person. Alvanei Xirixana, 15, was one of more than 20,000 members of the Yanonami ethnic group, who live mostly in large indigenous reservations along the Brazilian-Venezuelan border...
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52251342
- The president of Brazil again ignored social- distancing guidelines on Friday.
- *Video: Brazilian President Wipes His Nose Before Shaking Hands With Elderly Woman:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/world/lockdown-defying-brazilian-president-wipes-his-nose-before-shaking-hands-elderly-woman
...The far-right former-military leader, 65, has been vocal in his opposition to lockdown measures, saying they are an unnecessary drag on the country's economy. In the footage, Mr Bolsonaro can be seen flanked by security personnel waving to crowds of people, before he wipes his nose on his sleeve. He then extends that hand to an elderly lady, who is wearing a mask, to shake her hand.
His popularity in Brazil has fallen during the pandemic, with a growing number of Brazilians angered by his stance towards containing the disease, which he has described as a "little cold". On Thursday, Reuters reported that lockdowns in Brazil's biggest cities designed to contain the virus are now beginning to slip, and critics of Mr Bolsonaro say he is at least partially responsible...
= new reply since forum marked as read
I expect we will lose the entire year at this point. Most major events have been cancelled going into September. Fuck you Trump. And Bolsonaro. You own this. 
