Brazil crossed 2 million confirmed coronavirus cases on Thursday, with President Zaire Bolsonaro angry that dealing with the outbreak did not indicate a slowing growth rate.
Just 27 days have passed since Brazil, the second-largest outbreak in the world after the United States, reached one million cases. According to government figures, in recent weeks, 40,000 new cases per day have been confirmed.
In contrast, 43 days elapsed between 1 million and 2 million confirmed cases in the United States, where the prevalence of COVID-19 may have briefly decreased in May before escalating again.
On Thursday, a total of 2,012,151 cases were confirmed in Brazil, with 76,688 deaths.
Brazil, the largest country in Latin America, is home to 210 million people - two-thirds of the U.S. population.
In both countries, the infection spread as the virus gained steam in new areas away from the largest cities. In the absence of a strict coordination policy of the federal government, state and city responses in Brazil have not been properly shown.
Despite the rapid spread of the virus, former Army Captain Bolsonaro has put pressure on local governments to lift the lockdown ban.
Bolsonaro, who tested positive for the virus last week, downplayed his health risks and fought against social disruptions, describing his economic effects as worse than the disease. Under pressure, many governors and mayors have eased sanctions in recent weeks, leading to a major outbreak.
Polls reveal that Bolsonaro's popularity plummeted during the epidemic. According to a June survey by Polyester Datafelta, the share of bad or terrible Brazilians has increased their government by 44%. It was 38% in April and 36% in December.
Raphael Reese of Rio de Janeiro said, "Despite the health crisis, the government did not care about the people. They cared more about money than the people." "They made fun of the disease. They didn't believe it ... they wanted everyone to come back to the streets."
In some large cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, the first outbreak occurred in Brazil, with new daily cases being stabilized and gradually declining. However, its prevalence in other areas has further deteriorated.
Rapidly developing states include Rio Grande do Sul and Parane in southern Brazil, which soon closed its scope.
"The disease has developed not only over time, but also geographically," said Roberto Medrono, a professor of medicine at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. "We have not yet reached the maximum level in Brazil due to these infections occurring in different regions."
He said the model shows that a million cases coming in Brazil could gradually come as there are now few untouchable corners in the country. By the end of July or the first half of August, new daily cases will begin to decline nationally, Medronho said.
However, public health experts warn of a declining outlook in southern Brazil, which is now the coldest winter in the southern hemisphere, and the country’s population is older than any other country.
COVID-19, a disease caused by a new coronavirus, is very deadly to older populations. While other coronaviruses spread more rapidly during the winter, the effect of cold weather on novel viruses has not been scientifically proven.
“What worries me in the South is the spread of the interior with large populations,” said Wanderson Oliveira, former secretary of the Ministry of Health. "Due to the cold and humidity, there are all sorts of conditions to explode."
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