Brazil economists call for tougher measures as coronavirus cases ramp up

Nearly 200 Brazilian economists, including former finance ministers and central bank presidents, have urged the government to speed up vaccination and adopt tougher restrictions to stop Covid spread

Nearly 200 Brazilian economists, including former finance ministers and central bank presidents, have urged the Brazilian government to speed up vaccination and adopt tougher restrictions to stop the rampant spread of COVID-19.

The signatories of the letter published on Monday decried the "devastating" economic and social situation in Latin America's largest nation. They also attempted to debunk President Jair Bolsonaro's assertion that lockdowns and restrictions would inflict greater hardship on the population than the disease.

"This recession, as well as its harmful social consequences, was caused by the pandemic and will not be overcome until the pandemic is controlled through competent action from the federal government," the letter read.

"It is urgent that the different levels of government prepare to implement an emergency lockdown."

Brazil's gross domestic product contracted 4.1 per cent in 2020, the biggest annual recession in decades. The economists said the fall in activity alone cost Brazil approximately 58 billion reais (USD 10.5 billion), a loss of 6.9 per cent, in tax collection.

The nation had an average of 2,235 deaths a day last week the highest since the beginning of the pandemic. So far, nearly 2,95,000 people have died, the second-largest tally in the world after the United States, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Bolsonaro has fought against restrictions on the economy adopted by state governors and mayors. Just last week, the president sought to lift restrictions imposed in the Federal District, Bahia and Rio Grande do Sul via the Supreme Court, online news site G1 reported.