Calls for tighter COVID restrictions in Brazil

Health authorities in several Brazilian states on Monday urged stronger restrictions against COVID-19 to try to reduce overcrowding in hospitals. Brazil's National Council of Health Secretaries claims that in the last 30 days, there is an average of 1,000 COVID-19 deaths per day.

"The return of the pandemic in several states is collapsing their public and private care networks, bringing an imminent risk of spread to all regions of Brazil," Brazil's National Council of Health Secretaries said in an open letter published on Monday.

They claim that the country is in its worst moment since the pandemic began. The slow pace of the vaccination programme has also been the focus of criticism. Last week was the deadliest week in Brazil since the start of the pandemic, with 8,244 deaths from the virus.

The council's letter, which represents the nation's 27 health secretaries, suggested lockdowns in cities where no intensive-care beds are available, and overnight curfews in other areas.

Brazil's capital, Brasilia, entered a two-week lockdown on Sunday, and at least eight states adopted curfews in the past week due to a surge in cases and deaths from the virus. Less than 4% of Brazil's population has been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Almost 260,000 people have died from the disease in Brazil.  President Jair Bolsonaro insists the pandemic shouldn't prevent people from working and said governors who shut down their states should pay welfare to their constituents.

Image: AP