Today, Brazil risks entering a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Bolsonaro loses support in latest opinion polls. And municipal elections are two days away.
Is a second wave on the horizon for Brazil?
Figures from nine Brazilian state capitals (out of 27) are showing signs that the Covid-19 pandemic might be creeping toward a second wave in the country. The data comes from the InfoGripe report, a weekly survey on respiratory diseases. Eight of these cities are located in the poor North and Northeast regions.
Why it matters. Scientists warn that earlier this year, the coronavirus first spread in major urban areas and went unchecked in the North and Northeast — Brazil’s two poorest regions, where access to sanitation is limited, and most municipalities do not have hospitals.
- “There is no certainty of a second wave, but that possibility is becoming more real and should be considered by authorities,” said InfoGripe coordinator Marcelo Gomes. If it comes, a second wave could hit Brazil before Christmas.
Human toll. At this point, most isolation measures enforced by local governments have been lifted, and public support for new lockdowns has waned due to the economic consequences of halting the in-person economy in...