If you're planning a trip to Brazil, here's what you'll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the global coronavirus pandemic.
The basics
Brazil has been one of the hardest hit countries by the pandemic. It holds the second highest death toll in the world, second only to the United States, and the Brazilian variant of Covid-19 is rapidly spreading around the globe, thought to be more contagious.
What's on offer
This is a bucket list destination -- a country that really does have everything. Beachside Rio de Janeiro is one of the world's most beautiful cities, capital Brasilia is a whirl of modernist architecture, and Salvador is the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. There are some of the best beaches on the planet, plus, of course, the main part of the Amazon rainforest -- which visitors can help protect, by contributing toward the conservation economy.
Who can go
Almost everyone. Brazil's government has been infamously relaxed about the pandemic -- and that includes border control. Following a brief closure in 2020, the borders are now open, including to almost all tourists, for stays of up to 90 days.
British visitors are out of luck -- Brazil has banned flights to and from the UK since the announcement of the English variant of Covid-19, and nobody who has been in the UK in the past 14 days can go, other than residents, family members of Brazilian nationals, and some business travel.
What are the restrictions?
If flying, before boarding, all arrivals must present a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours, and a traveler's health declaration form to their airline before boarding (the airline will distribute the form).
Land and sea borders are closed to non-residents, unless en route to fly home. In that case, travelers must get authorization in advance, present a note from their own embassy or consulate authorizing their crossing at the border, show the plane ticket and go straight to the airport.
There is no quarantine on arrival. Even quarantine for those with symptoms is voluntary.
What's the Covid situation?
Dire. Throughout the pandemic, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has criticized the use of masks and threatened governors who adopt lockdown measures, and as of April 20 the country has had over 13.9 million cases, and 374,682 deaths.
On March 25, Brazil's Health Ministry reported the figure of more than 100,000 new Covid-19 cases confirmed in a single day -- the country's highest such figure since the pandemic began.
Brazil has the grim record for most Covid-19 cases and deaths per day, with hospitals struggling. Intubation, medication and oxygen have repeatedly run low at points during the pandemic.
Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state in the Amazon region, has been hit hard, with hospitals here running out of oxygen in January. The Brazilian variant is thought to have emerged here, after it had been thought that the area might even have been approaching herd immunity.
Right now, intensive care units ICUs in all at but three of Brazil's states and federal districts are at over 80% occupancy.
On April 6, Brazil recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic so far, with health ministry data reporting more than 4,000 deaths in a single day.
In some cities, including Rio de Janeiro, deaths are currently outpacing births.
The country in the grip of a new wave, and scientists have said that the country is in its worst state so far.
Brazil has currently fully vaccinated 4.10% of the population.
What's on offer
This is a bucket list destination -- a country that really does have everything. Beachside Rio de Janeiro is one of the world's most beautiful cities, capital Brasilia is a whirl of modernist architecture, and Salvador is the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. There are some of the best beaches on the planet, plus, of course, the main part of the Amazon rainforest -- which visitors can help protect, by contributing toward the conservation economy.
Who can go
Almost everyone. Brazil's government has been infamously relaxed about the pandemic -- and that includes border control. Following a brief closure in 2020, the borders are now open, including to almost all tourists, for stays of up to 90 days.
British visitors are out of luck -- Brazil has banned flights to and from the UK since the announcement of the English variant of Covid-19, and nobody who has been in the UK in the past 14 days can go, other than residents, family members of Brazilian nationals, and some business travel.
What are the restrictions?
If flying, before boarding, all arrivals must present a negative PCR test performed within 72 hours, and a traveler's health declaration form to their airline before boarding (the airline will distribute the form).
Land and sea borders are closed to non-residents, unless en route to fly home. In that case, travelers must get authorization in advance, present a note from their own embassy or consulate authorizing their crossing at the border, show the plane ticket and go straight to the airport.
There is no quarantine on arrival. Even quarantine for those with symptoms is voluntary.
What's the Covid situation?
Dire. Throughout the pandemic, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has criticized the use of masks and threatened governors who adopt lockdown measures, and as of April 20 the country has had over 13.9 million cases, and 374,682 deaths.
On March 25, Brazil's Health Ministry reported the figure of more than 100,000 new Covid-19 cases confirmed in a single day -- the country's highest such figure since the pandemic began.
Brazil has the grim record for most Covid-19 cases and deaths per day, with hospitals struggling. Intubation, medication and oxygen have repeatedly run low at points during the pandemic.
Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state in the Amazon region, has been hit hard, with hospitals here running out of oxygen in January. The Brazilian variant is thought to have emerged here, after it had been thought that the area might even have been approaching herd immunity.
Right now, intensive care units ICUs in all at but three of Brazil's states and federal districts are at over 80% occupancy.
On April 6, Brazil recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic so far, with health ministry data reporting more than 4,000 deaths in a single day.
In some cities, including Rio de Janeiro, deaths are currently outpacing births.
The country in the grip of a new wave, and scientists have said that the country is in its worst state so far.
Brazil has currently fully vaccinated 4.10% of the population.
What can visitors expect?
The Brazilian government has done little to limit the spread nationally, but individual states have introduced measures -- São Paulo state, for example, closed everything other than essential services for Christmas and New Year, and Minas Gerais also imposed harsh restrictions.
There have also been local lockdown restrictions in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais all opposed by Bolsonaro but introduced by local authorities.
In fact, Bolsonaro's administration filed a suit in Brazil's Supreme Court declaring that only the federal government has the right to impose such restrictions. The court sided with the states, however, calling Bolsonaro's argument "totalitarian."
Restrictions continue to vary in each area.
São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have both eased recent lockdowns. São Paulo is reopening state schools, sports events, and construction stores. Rio de Janeiro is allowing bars and restaurants to operate again.
São Paulo authorities have justified the reopening by pointing out that occupancy rates in intensive care units in the state have fallen from a crisis-level 90.5% to 88.6%.
In a press conference, Mayor Eduardo Paes said "our reality does not allow lockdown."
Paes added that shop owners and the general population suffer economically from such measures. Still, he said, "This is no time to relax."
There are continuing clamors for a national lockdown, with over 500 prominent Brazilian bankers, economists and politicians publishing an open letter in the country's biggest newspapers asking the federal government to rethink its approach to the pandemic.
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also recently advocated for lockdown while speaking to CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
The United Nations office in Brazil has also asked for the country to impose movement restrictions, warning that an accelerating death rate and absence of a national coordinated plan are "leading the country to a catastrophe."
Useful links
Our recent coverage
Brazil is among the countries welcoming American tourists back. Read how the Christ Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio reopened to visitors. And say cheers with a glass of Brazil's national spirit, cachaça.
Acesse a notícia original AQUI
Acesse: www.jacksoncampos.com.br
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