This archive report was first published on 18 May 2020.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across Brazil, the mayor of São Paulo, Bruno Covas, has sounded the alarm, warning that the city's health system is on the brink of collapse.
On May 18, 2020, Covas stated that São Paulo's public hospitals had reached 90% capacity and could run out of space in two weeks, putting immense pressure on the city's healthcare system.
The city's mayor accused those who flouted lockdown rules of playing 'Russian roulette' with people's lives, emphasizing the need for residents to stay at home and adhere to social distancing measures.
With over 3,000 deaths reported in São Paulo, the city has become one of the country's worst-hit regions, and the situation is expected to worsen in the coming weeks.
According to the health ministry, Brazil reported 7,938 new cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total above 241,000, with the death toll standing at 16,118 – the world's fifth-highest figure.
Health experts in Brazil have warned that the real number of confirmed infections in the country may be far higher than the official records, due to a lack of testing.
President Jair Bolsonaro has been criticized for his handling of the crisis, with many accusing him of downplaying the severity of the pandemic and prioritizing economic interests over public health.
