April 19

The Brazilian government is planning to lift the public health emergency measures that were implemented at the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic two years ago.

Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga said on Sunday that the number of infections appears to be decreasing. He noted that most eligible people have now been vaccinated. Queiroga went on to announce that the public health emergency measures implemented in February 2020 will be lifted in a few days.

Brazil has had more than 30 million infections. That is the third highest number in the world. The number of deaths has surpassed 660,000. That is the world's second highest figure. Only the United States has had more.

Health authorities said as of Sunday, the weekly average of new daily cases was more than 14,300 and the number of deaths was 100. 

NHK