Coronavirus

Campaign rallies could spark coronavirus infections

Jilmar Tatto of the Workers' Party campaign in São Paulo. Photo: Filipe Araújo/FP
Jilmar Tatto of the Workers’ Party campaigns in São Paulo. Photo: Filipe Araújo/FP

In at least five states, coronavirus cases have shown an upward trend — which authorities link to campaign rallies before the November 15 municipal election.

  • Amapá. The northern state has seen a 300-percent surge in ICU admittances over the past month — leading state electoral authorities to forbid all in-person campaign events. 
  • Bahia. The state’s Health Secretary, Fábio Vilas-Boas, said Bahia registered its biggest daily infection tallies last week, “following rallies that gathered hundreds of people.”
  • Espírito Santo. Healthcare providers report that their hospitals are full. The state government has filed a petition asking electoral courts to suspend all campaign events.
  • Rio Grande do Norte. Hospital occupancy rates are going up, and the state government has pleaded with campaigns to favor online events over meet-and-greets.
  • Paraíba. State authorities say that Paraíba’s biggest municipalities — capital João Pessoa and Campina Grande — are observing a surge of infections associated with party conventions and street rallies.
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