Almost five months since the first case of Covid-19 was recorded in Brazil, the country appears to be no closer to beating the virus. With over 2.2 million infections, more than 82,000 deaths, and a nationwide curve that shows no signs of flattening, the country’s response to the pandemic has been shambolic at best. Now, data from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation biological research center indicates that a second wave of Covid-19 infection may be underway in multiple Brazilian states.
After a decrease in deaths in major Brazilian cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro — prompting non-essential businesses to reopen — figures show that hospitalization rates for severe respiratory distress are climbing once again in four states: Amapá, Maranhão, Ceará, and Rio de Janeiro.
These findings are particularly worrying, as analysts have conditioned any hope of a reasonable economic recovery in Brazil to the country avoiding a second Covid-19 wave.
According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a second wave of Covid-19 cases would worsen Brazil’s expected GDP contraction from -7.4 percent to a staggering -9.1 percent — almost double the expected global GDP decline of -4.9 percent, following estimates from the International Monetary Fund.
Yet, for many economists, the Brazilian economy already faced its worst moment back in April when isolation measures and fears over how...
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