RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil, one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, recorded 2,495 deaths from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to more than 498,000, the government reported Friday.
Since the first death from the virus was recorded in the country on March 12, 2020, 498,499 people have lost their lives to the coronavirus in the country.
Contagions in the country also continue to rise. After confirming 98,832 new cases, the number of people infected by the virus reached 17,801,462, according to data released in the latest bulletin of the Ministry of Health.
The positive cases reported this Friday represent the highest daily number since March 25, when 100,158 people were reported infected, a record since the pandemic outbreak.
The daily average of deaths and infections in the last seven days reached 2,038 victims, and 72,192 confirmed cases, higher by 6.5% and 11%, respectively, than those recorded a week ago.
The figures might confirm the theory of experts who have been announcing the arrival of a third wave of the pandemic in Brazil for weeks. Therefore, the next few days are of great importance to determine whether this is indeed a third wave in the making.
Brazil has the second-highest number of Covid-19 deaths globally, behind only the United States, and the third-highest number of confirmed cases, after the USA and India. All three countries are continental-size nations, and the high numbers should therefore be put into perspective.
The pandemic situation in Brazil was described by some as worrying, others call it even critical.
The latest bulletin from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), released June 18, indicates that 19 states have occupancy rates of at least 80% in Intensive Care Units (ICU). In 8 states, ICU occupancy rates are equal to or higher than 90%.
The experts’ hope lies in the progress of the vaccination campaign in the country, which has accelerated in recent weeks, and that if the calculations are maintained, the rhythm can advance even more. Just the day before, Brazil broke a new daily immunization record by administering 2.2 million vaccines in 24 hours.
More than 81 million doses have been administered throughout the country in five months of the vaccination campaign. According to the health ministry, 27.2% of the 212 million Brazilians have already received the first dose, although only 11.2% are fully immunized with two doses.
The progress has been seen mainly in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, where the vaccination dates have been brought forward for those over 18 years of age, who will be immunized in September with the full schedule in the two metropolises if there are no changes in the calendar.
The mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, pointed out this Friday that if the number of vaccinations announced by the national government for the coming months is maintained, by August 31 all adults in the capital of Rio de Janeiro will have at least the first dose of some immunization.
If so, the mayor says the “Cidade Maravilhosa” could resume its tourist activity in December with one of its main events: the ‘Reveillon’ New Year’s Eve party that traditionally brings millions of spectators tp the iconic Copacabana beach, with fireworks, orchestras and samba music.