COVID-19 in Brazil: tragedy, social inequality, denial of science, suffering and preventable deaths

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17267/2317-3394rpds.v10i3.3595

Keywords:

COVID-19, Pandemic, Coronavirus

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11th, 2020. A defining characteristic of the crisis in Brazil was the lack of a national plan to combat COVID-19, a situation aggravated by the denial of science and the proliferation of fake news. OBJECTIVE: Discuss whether the lack of coordination on the federal level informed by a focus on the World Health Organization guidelines, the denial of science, and social inequality, are factors that contributed to the exacerbation of the crisis and an increased number of victims. METHODOLOGY: As this is an essay, the study was carried out based on bibliographic research that prioritized the initial publications of the year 2020, during the period of the pandemic, including documents from the Pan American Health Organization (OPAS), and from the OMS. Based off these sources, it was possible to make reflections and interpretations about the crisis in Brazil. CONCLUSION: Based on the analysis of publications about the pandemic, it is possible to theorize that the lack of a government-led initiative based on science to combat covid-19, as well as negationism, fake news, and social inequality, may have contributed to the increased number of cases, loss of human life, and suffering of the population. With this it can be asserted that the response to the pandemic must be scientifically based, and must include the implementing of measures in the areas of health, economics and human rights to mitigate the  effects of this tragedy.

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Author Biographies

  • José Álvaro Fonseca Gomes, Universidad de Ciencias Enpresariales y Sociales - UCES (Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires, Argentina.

    Doutorando em Psicologia.

  • Silvia Bentolila, Universidad de Ciencias Enpresariales y Sociales - UCES
    Titular Cátedra "Abordaje Psicosocial de las Neurosis Traumáticas y Catástrofes Colectivas. Maestría Problemas y patologías del desvalimiento - UCES. Directora: Diplomatura de Prácticas de salud mental y apoyo psicosocial en emergencias y desastres - Universidade ISALUD. Directora: Carrera de especialista en emergencias y desastres - Colegio de Psicólogos de la pcia de Buenos Aires, Distrito XIII.

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Published

11/26/2021

Issue

Section

Editorial

How to Cite

Gomes, J. Álvaro F., & Bentolila, S. (2021). COVID-19 in Brazil: tragedy, social inequality, denial of science, suffering and preventable deaths. Revista Psicologia, Diversidade E Saúde, 10(3), 349-359. https://doi.org/10.17267/2317-3394rpds.v10i3.3595

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