For the second straight day, Brazil broke its daily record for coronavirus deaths, when officials across the country reported at least 2,286 new casualties.
Seven-day averages can provide a more accurate picture of the virus’s progression than daily death tallies, which can fluctuate. Brazil’s seven-day average has reached new records every day and now sits at 1,626.
As a brutal surge gathers speed across the country, states no longer manage to cope with the demand for intensive care beds. In São Paulo — where dozens of patients have died awaiting hospital beds in intensive care units — authorities announced the opening of 338 new Covid-19 beds, still below the demand seen in recent weeks.
In the federal capital, Brasília ICU occupancy on the public network has hit 100 percent, with a list of 203 patients awaiting beds.
Meanwhile, the country’s vaccination rollout continues to stall. Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello reduced, for the fourth time, his forecast for vaccines to be distributed in March. He estimated new available vaccines between 22 and 25 million — against 46 million at the beginning of the month.
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