Brazil's poorest die at home as pandemic grows

Relatives of ilson Carlos Sousa waited 27 hours until a funeral service arrived at Manguinhos favela in Rio de Janeiro to remove body of 61-year-old man who died with COVID-19-like symptoms.

Joao da Silva, a member of n-governmental organization Rio de Paz providing social work support during pandemic and distributing food among residents of shantytown, was called by family to help.

He shot a video of moment Sousa's body was removed from home by workers of a funeral parlor.

Relatives told da Silva that two ambulances arrived at house after Sousa died, but neir of m took body.

In Brazil when someone dies, police or medical service has to be tified to release a death certificate but only funeral service can remove body.

After spending hours looking for information, family found a funeral parlor willing to remove ir loved one's body.

Sousa arrived at home about 10 days after being released from hospital where he was treated for pneumonia.

According to da Silva, he h symptoms of COVID-19 but family could t take him back to hospital.

"What happened with Mr ilson, we believe it's happening in communities (favelas) of Rio. People are dying, victims of virus and state keeps inert, keeps looking indifferent (to favelas) as it always did," da Silva said.

Brazil has been hard-hit by pandemic where, according to registry office, number of deaths at home increased in 23% between February 26 – when first case was confirmed in country - and May 16.

It means that 10,076 more people died in that period compared with same period last year, according to registry office statistics.

In Manaus, Eldon Cascais h been battling lung cancer for past five years.

He visited public hospitals frequently for treatment, same hospitals that collapsed in April after pandemic hit Brazilian rainforest city with full force.

So, when 34-year-old fell sick after going out to run errands, he didn't seek medical help.

Seven days later, on May 9, Cascais passed away in his home, alone.

Like most Manaus residents who die at home, Cascais was never tested for COVID-19, despite having suffered from most common symptoms of disease cause by new coronavirus.

Workers of SOS Funeral, a service supported by Manaus City Hall that provides free coffins and funeral services to those who can't afford m, removed body of Cascais as y did with Leivane Bibia only three days after.

Bibia, an HIV-positive mor of four, died at 42 and was also treated for tuberculosis at local tropical diseases foundation.

Two weeks before her death, Bibia developed a fever, diarrhea and an incessant, different cough according to her eldest son Leandro.

She was never tested for COVID-19.

" deaths at home usually come with acute respiratory insufficiency, and re is sample collected to be tested later for COVID. But from our day-to-day experience, we understand it is related to COVID-19," said Lenise Trinde, he of SOS Funeral.

Of country's 27 states, 22 registered an increase in number of deaths at home.

In Manaus, increase between February 26 and May 16 was 159%, according to registry office comparing numbers with same period last year.

By Sunday, Brazil h registered 29,314 deaths linked to virus, country with fourth highest number of victims in world, after United States, UK and Italy, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Brazil's close to 515,000 reported cases is second highest toll behind US.

For most people, new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

But virus is highly contagious and can be spre by those with mild or visible symptoms.

For some, especially older ults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could le to death.