LAUSR

Five months into the COVID-19 epidemic, as of 19 August 2020, Brazil reported a total of 3,407,354 PCR-confirmed cases and 109,888 deaths due to COVID-19, a case fatality rate (CFR) of 3.2%. These numbers likely reflect a massive underestimate as individuals who are asymptomatic, pauci-symptomatic or pre-symptomatic are often not tested, while contact tracing remains limited. The rapid spread of COVID-19 in Brazil is attributable to many factors, including urban density, timing of the implementation and maintenance of social distancing policies, and limited testing capacity. Furthermore, as of late June 2020, as a result of economic and political pressures, many Brazilian states have lifted restrictions on businesses and shared spaces despite increasing numbers of cases.