Brazil, South America's largest economy, has largely been unprepared for the coronavirus pandemic as it spreads through the nation. Tens of thousands are sick as populist President Jair Bolsonaro continues to dismiss the disease as "fantasy." Bolsonaro accused mayors who have imposed lockdown as "falling into a state of panic," and he recently fired his widely popular health minister (the Dr. Tony Fauci of Brazil).
GZERO World spoke to Dr. Álvaro Furtado, an infectious disease specialist working in São Paulo, the epicenter of the country's outbreak, about the challenges of caring for the throngs of sick patients, the need for more supplies and hospital beds, and the reasons why Brazil is anecdotally seeing only a 50-60% compliance rate on "stay at home" policies.
Hear Dr. Furtado's story from the frontline in São Paulo, watch the GZERO World episode on how to end the coronavirus pandemic with Dr. Larry Brilliant, and listen to Ian Bremmer's extended interview with Dr. Brilliant on the GZERO World Podcast.