According to health ministry figures reviewed by the Guardian, from 26 April to 23 May, the numbers of deaths of black and mixed-race Brazilians who died of Covid-19 after testing positive (where race was listed) increased 7.2 times, and white Brazilians 4.5 times. It noted that a black patient who could not read had nearly four times more chance of dying than a white university graduate, “confirming the enormous disparities in access and quality of treatment in Brazil”.Ī report by the Pública investigative media outlet showed more Covid-19 deaths in neighbourhoods in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo with majority black populations. It found that 55% of the black and mixed-race patients died, compared to 38% of white patients. The researchers studied health service data on 30,000 patients diagnosed with Covid-19, who had either recovered or died by 18 May. “There is clearly a difference in lethality for whites and non-whites,” says Fernando Bozza, a researcher in infectious diseases at the government research institute Fiocruz, who co-authored the analysis of deaths by race published on 27 May by the Nucleus of Health Operations and Intelligence. Researchers, doctors and health specialists believe factors including poverty, poor access to health services, overcrowded housing and high rates of health issues such as hypertension are some of the reasons Covid-19 kills proportionally more black Brazilians. “It’s hidden, not as loud as it used to be.” “This revulsion that people feel is just,” he says, adding that he “really feels” racism in Brazil. The study was released in the same week that the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked anti-racism demonstrations across the US, which Dos Santos says he can well understand. And a new study added to evidence that the virus is killing proportionally more black Brazilians than whites, exposing, in sharp relief, the country’s staggering inequalities. Figures reveal a higher mortality rate for black Americans. Government statistics show it is more lethal for BAME people in the UK. The virus is not as democratic as it initially seemed. As of 8 June Brazil had almost 700,000 confirmed cases and 37,000 deaths. Now the virus is scything through the country’s poorer suburbs, favelas and low-income towns such as São João de Meriti – where 63% of the population self-declared as black or mixed race in Brazil’s last census in 2010, compared to 48% in nearby Rio de Janeiro. “When you have a good relationship with your father, it is even worse.”Ĭovid-19 first hit Brazil’s white upper classes, who brought it back from abroad. “It was very really difficult,” says Dos Santos. He went to hospital with heart problems, caught Covid-19, and died. One victim was his father, also called Marcos, who was 68. “Most people here are black and mixed race.” “As we have a lot of faith in Jesus Christ, people are always asking for prayers and that’s how we know about these deaths,” he says.
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