Even if the coronavirus numbers continue to rise, the residents of Rio de Janeiro populate the city’s world-famous beaches. Thousands of people crowded around Leblon Beach, which was packed with colorful umbrellas and visitors, as can be seen in photos from the previous day. Most of the beachgoers did not wear a protective mask.
Among other things, the city and state of Rio de Janeiro recorded rising coronavirus numbers again, and the occupancy rate of public and private intensive care beds for Covid 19 patients increased. Still, Governor Claudio Castro and Mayor Marcelo Crivella hardly wanted to take a step backwards towards restrictive measures. The carnival in the sambodrome was postponed and the official New Year’s Eve party on Copacabana beach was canceled, but kiosks and hotels continue to offer celebrations at the turn of the year.
Bolsonaro: rush to vaccinate „not justified“
Meanwhile, the far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro called the hurry to buy and distribute a vaccine against the coronavirus as unfounded. “The rush is not justified,” said Bolsonaro in a video that one of his sons, MP Eduardo Bolsonaro, posted on social networks yesterday. „It interferes with people’s lives.“
The president, who played down the virus from the start, criticized Pfizer and Biontech on Thursday and referred to possible collateral damage to their vaccine. “The contract clearly states that Pfizer is not responsible for any side effects. If you turn into a caiman, it’s your problem, ”said Bolsonaro and laughed.
In Brazil – the largest country in Latin America – more than seven million people are now infected. The state with a population of 210 million is heading for 200,000 deaths and reports further highs almost daily. However, Bolsonaro said the pandemic was coming to an end in Brazil.
