Brazil's new coronavirus cases appear to be on a slight decline but the country remains under crisis as the reopening of businesses in main cities threatens hopes for a recovery.
Brazil Passes 1.6 Million Cases
The Brazilian health ministry on Sunday reported 26,051 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the country's total infection toll to 1,603,055. There were also 602 deaths over the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 64,867.
The news came as some of the country's biggest cities prepare for an economic reopening that President Jair Bolsonaro has long been urging.
Sao Paulo, for example, is looking to reopen some locations that are considered crowd-gathering sites. Among the changes that the largest Brazilian city will see is longer operating hour for shopping malls.
Sao Paulo Reopens Bars and Restaurants
The local government of Sao Paulo announced that bars and restaurants will be allowed to operate for six daylight hours, despite rising COVID-19 cases in the city.
Bars and restaurants were forced to shut down about 100 days ago, and while they are reopening this week, the said business segments need to be closed by 5 PM.
Gyms, theaters, and cinemas are also expected to reopen in the coming days or weeks, with Bolsonaro critics continuously urging the Brazilian government to be wary of early reopening at a crucial time in the country's COVID-19 crisis.
Sao Paulo now has over 320,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Bolsonaro Rejects Face Mask in Big Weekend Event
On Saturday, Bolsonaro attended the U.S. Independence Day celebration in Brasilia, one day after the Brazilian leader vetoed the mandatory use of face masks or face coverings in private gatherings.
In photos Bolsonaro himself shared on social media, the Brazilian president can be seen not wearing a mask. Some of his Cabinet ministers also went maskless.
Before the July 4th event, Bolsonaro was spotted multiple times over the past months without a mask as he joined protesters calling for provincial governors to ease anti-coronavirus guidelines.
Bolsonaro's actions came even amid calls from global health experts to practice proper social distancing and wear face masks in both public and private settings such as weddings, schools, malls, and other locations.
Science Writer Warns of 'Tsunami'
Amid the political crisis that has come in between the efforts of some local governments to prevent further COVID-19 infections in their territories, science writer Natália Pasternak said in a TV interview that "Brazil doesn't have a second wave – it has a tsunami."
Pasternak's comments came amid questions of whether Brazil is moving to its second wave of infections. Pasternak noted that before discussing the arrival of a second wave, the first wave has to be overcome.
It remains to be seen how the Bolsonaro administration will handle thousands of new coronavirus cases and hundreds of lives being lost to the novel virus daily.
