Brazilian activists turned Rio de Janeiro's iconic Copacabana Beach into a somber memorial this week, laying out mock graves and white body bags to mark the country surpassing 400,000 COVID-19 deaths. The visually striking protest comes as April became Brazil's deadliest pandemic month yet, with over 3,000 daily fatalities at its peak. 🌊⚰️
Vaccine Rollout Slows Amid Crisis
While health experts warn of a potential third wave, vaccination efforts have slowed to a crawl—only 15% of Brazilians have received at least one dose. President Jair Bolsonaro doubled down on his anti-lockdown stance during a live broadcast, stating: \"We cannot destroy jobs over this.\" Critics argue his policies prioritise economy over lives. 💉📉
What Comes Next?
With hospital ICU occupancy rates still above 80% in major cities and new variants spreading, many fear Brazil's crisis could ripple across Latin America. As dusk fell on Copacabana, one protester told crowds: \"Each bag represents someone’s parent, child, or friend. We demand accountability.\" 🕯️✊
