Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
Athena Institute, Faculty of Science, VU University Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 11;18(2):555. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020555.
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it causes, COVID-19, which emerged in 2019, was identified by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern. Brazil actively responded to contain the virus. This case study aims to examine Brazil's response to COVID-19 by investigating the country's actions and reflecting upon the outcomes throughout January and March 2020. The data collection strategy included gathering data from the country's intergovernmental organization's official website, epidemiological bulletins, and news reports, guided by intersectoral and interdisciplinary themes. Although the highest incidence rates were in the most rich and populated region in Brazil, it was the poorest region that had the highest case fatality rate. Nevertheless, Brazil took several non-pharmaceutical measures to control and mitigate the spread of the virus. However, the strategy seems to have failed to consider regional and social inequalities. The actions of the health minister were undermined by a conflicting discourse between the minister and the president. The outbreak of COVID-19 added an extra burden on the country's healthcare system and the existing economic crises; exacerbated the inherent social, political, and economic challenges; and exposed the country's contradictions.
新型冠状病毒 SARS-CoV-2 的爆发及其导致的疾病 COVID-19 于 2019 年出现，世界卫生组织将其认定为国际关注的突发公共卫生事件。巴西积极应对以遏制该病毒。本案例研究通过调查该国在 2020 年 1 月和 3 月期间的行动，并反思其结果，旨在研究巴西对 COVID-19 的应对措施。数据收集策略包括从该国政府间组织的官方网站、流行病学公报和新闻报道中收集数据，这些数据由部门间和跨学科主题指导。尽管巴西发病率最高的地区是该国最富裕和人口最多的地区，但死亡率最高的却是最贫穷的地区。尽管如此，巴西还是采取了多项非药物措施来控制和减轻病毒的传播。然而，该战略似乎未能考虑到地区和社会不平等。卫生部长的行动受到部长和总统之间相互矛盾的言论的破坏。COVID-19 的爆发给该国的医疗保健系统和现有的经济危机增加了额外的负担；加剧了固有的社会、政治和经济挑战；并暴露了该国的矛盾。
