Numbers of the week: Nov. 28, 2020

14.6 percent in Q3 2020 — up 1.3 points from the previous quarter. However, economists say that Brazil&#8217;s unemployment is <a href="https://brazilian.report/business/2020/10/23/brazil-unemployment-hits-new-records-but-worse-is-yet-to-come/">about to get much more severe</a> once the coronavirus emergency salary comes to an end in December. The cancelation will force millions of people to return to job-seeking, leading unemployment rates to skyrocket.</p> <h2>BRL 5.6 billion of Covid-19 money goes unused</h2> <p>The Health Ministry <a href="https://oglobo.globo.com/sociedade/coronavirus/ministerio-da-saude-tem-34-bilhoes-parados-desde-maio-no-orcamento-emergencial-de-combate-pandemia-24767880">has left BRL 3.4 billion</a> (USD 637 million) earmarked for anti-coronavirus actions completely untouched. In addition to that amount, the government ministry has another BRL 2.2 billion in unused resources to be allocated to Covid-19 vaccination efforts. So far, the federal government has neglected to use 12.8 percent of the BRL 44.2-billion budget granted to the Health Ministry during the pandemic.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator"/> <h2>Number 1 for spreading hydroxychloroquine myths</h2> <p>A survey by newspaper <a href="https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/equilibrioesaude/2020/11/brasil-e-unico-pais-onde-fake-news-sobre-cloroquina-ainda-circulam-com-frequencia.shtml">Folha de S.Paulo</a> shows that Brazil is the leading country for sharing misinformation regarding the use of antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a potential Covid-19 cure. In addition, Brazil is the only country in the world where information about the drug continues to circulate frequently. While scientific evidence indicates that hydroxychloroquine is not effective against the coronavirus and could actually be dangerous for patients with heart problems, it has been <a href="https://brazilian.report/podcast/2020/05/27/chloroquine-bolsonaros-miracle-cure-for-covid-19-podcast/">touted as a “potential cure”</a> by President Jair Bolsonaro.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator"/> <h2>394,989 net formal jobs created</h2> <p>Data from Brazil’s Economy Ministry shows that the country created 394,989 net formal jobs in October. The result is almost double market analysts&#8217; expectations and was the highest figure for a month of October since 1992. The annual results for job creation in 2020 still stands at negative 171,139, which, considering the magnitude of the coronavirus crisis, is seen as a manageable result. Moreover, the holiday season is expected to create a boom in hires, barring the emergence of a second coronavirus wave in Brazil.</p> <p>However, the rally in formal jobs does not reflect the situation of the job market as a whole, as informal labor makes up a huge part of the Brazilian economy and was hit hard by the pandemic.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator"/> <h2>16 million brazilians have personal data leaked</h2> <p>A password leak giving access to systems of Brazil’s Health Ministry exposed the personal data of 16 million-plus Brazilians who took Covid-19 tests. Information such as individual taxpayer IDs, addresses, telephone numbers, and pre-existing medical conditions was made public online for almost a month. The list of people who had their information made public without their consent includes President Jair Bolsonaro, the heads of both congressional houses, and 17 state governors. </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator"/> <h2>The eternal 10</h2> <p>At the age of 60, Diego Armando Maradona — one of the greatest players in the history of world football — passed away on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack at his home in Buenos Aires. He received a state funeral at the Casa Rosada presidential palace on Thursday. He was the joint winner of FIFA&#8217;s Player of the 20th Century award, alongside Brazil&#8217;s Pelé, who said on Wednesday that he had &#8220;lost a friend.&#8221; &#8220;I hope that one day we can play football together in heaven,&#8221; he added.