The Intelligence from The Economist Despair and disparities: covid-19 consumes Brazil
Mar 8, 2021
Sarah Maslin, the Economist's Brazil correspondent, provides a piercing look into Brazil's devastating COVID-19 crisis. She discusses the government's erratic response and the strain on hospitals amidst rising fatalities and the P1 variant. The conversation also touches on the implications of Brazil's situation for global vaccination efforts. Maslin highlights how the pandemic has disproportionately affected women in the workforce. Her insights reveal a stark narrative of despair intertwined with pressing social issues and international concern.
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Brazil's COVID-19 Crisis
- Brazil is experiencing a devastating second wave of COVID-19, with record fatalities and overwhelmed hospitals.
- A sense of fatalism pervades the country, hindering effective pandemic response.
Overwhelmed Healthcare System
- Unlike the first wave, which moved between states, the second wave has simultaneously engulfed most of Brazil.
- This has strained the healthcare system with limited capacity to transfer resources between states.
The P1 Variant
- The P1 variant, discovered in Manaus, is significantly more contagious and capable of reinfecting individuals.
- Worryingly, this wave impacts young people more severely.