Last Updated
Three months after scrapping mandatory masks, Brazil is taking a step back and reinstating the controversial requirement for travelers. Being one of a handful of destinations that are yet to fully reopen their borders, the country has repeatedly refused to move forward from the health crisis in spite of high vaccination rates and low mortality in recent months.
While South America remained largely open for tourism and business throughout 2020, once immunization began, the region swapped places with Europe and North America in adopting some of the hardest anti-Covid measures yet. Still, to this date, Americans face vaccination discrimination traveling to Brazil and a majority of its neighboring countries.
Sadly, the threat of a new Covid wave has led lawmakers in the country to tighten curbs once again:
Americans Must Wear Face Masks Again Traveling To Brazil
Brazil has a vaccination rate of well over 80%, higher than many developed nations in the Northern Hemisphere, and a far more controlled epidemiological curve, but this is not stopping Anvisa, the National Health Surveillance Agency, from issuing new emergency edicts – or showing reluctance in joining others in declaring an endemic phase.
Anvisa is the Brazilian equivalent to the CDC, and alongside the Ministry of Health, they have been responsible for guiding the Government on science-based decision-making throughout the crisis. As reported by G1, health officials have re-issued a mask mandate this week in light of a new wave, which has pushed up the number of deaths compared to last week.
Top 5 Travel Insurance Plans For 2023 Starting At $10 Per Week
On November 22, the average weekly death rate stood at 65, up 43% compared to the previous seven days. Although current figures represent only a small fraction of earlier waves that have hit Brazil, more specifically Omicron and its sub-variants, cases and deaths are…