Explaining Brazil #122: Six months of the coronavirus in Latin America

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This week’s episode, Six months of the coronavirus in Latin America, was supported by AMEC, the Brazilian Association of Investors in Capital Markets. AMEC brings together around 60 institutional investors from Brazil and abroad — which have a combined portfolio of over USD 130 billion.

It was also supported by AirYourVoice.com, a platform that offers an SEO Mastery course which will make your company’s website the top-ranked in your field, in no time at all.

We don’t know exactly when the coronavirus began infecting people in Latin America.

Some researchers say that Sars-CoV-2 might have been circulating in Brazil as early as January, while one preliminary study suggested the virus may even have been present in the country back in November 2019. But the first confirmed Covid-19 infection happened exactly six months ago, when a 61-year-old man tested positive in São Paulo.

Half a year later, Latin America is the global epicenter of the pandemic — with five of the region’s countries among the top 10 worst-hit nations in the world. So far, 6.7 million cases have been confirmed south of the Rio Grande, along with over 260,000 deaths.

How things have gotten so out of control?

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On this episode:

Lucas Berti covers international affairs — specialized in Latin American politics and markets.
Aline Gatto Boueri is a data journalist based in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Background reading:

Don’t miss our Covid-19 Live Blog.
Which approach to the Covid-19 crisis causes the least damage — and costs the fewest lives?
With an uncontrolled spread, Brazil became a key player in the race for a vaccine, with multiple potential immunizations against the coronavirus being tested in the country. Our July 21 Daily Briefing explained, in detail, at which stage each vaccine is.
How Brazil’s economy can bounce back after the pandemic, according to reporter Rafael Lima. Hint: it won’t be easy.
Besides the pandemic, Brazilian governors face multiple crises, José Roberto Castro explains.
Coronavirus aid sees Brazil’s poverty rates drop to their lowest level since 2004, writes reporter Laís Martins. But what will happen once this benefit stops?

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