Summary

Brazil has emerged as a global hotspot in the COVID-19 pandemic. The country now has the third-most active cases in the world, behind only Russia and the United States, and 249 deaths were recorded yesterday alone.

The outlook will deteriorate further over the near term. If the current rate holds, total deaths will double every two weeks. As of May 25, the death count stands at 23,522. And the health systems of major cities like Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro are already at the point of near-collapse.

Where does Brazil’s COVID-19 outbreak go next, and will President Bolsonaro – infamous for his blasé attitude toward the crisis – pay for his government’s bungled response?