37.8 Overall Score (down 4.5 since Aug 1st.)

Brazil

  • 30.7 Public Health
    Directives
  • 16.2 Financial
    Response
  • 64 Fact-Based
    Communication
  • 30.7 Public Health
    Directives
  • 16.2 Financial
    Response
  • 64 Fact-Based
    Communication

Brazil has a relatively weak score, primarily due to its poor public health policies, especially its very low levels of testing, coupled with President Bolsonaro’s spreading of misinformation about the virus.

Pre-COVID Conditions

Despite relatively wide access to healthcare services, Brazil’s low GDP per capita, substantial inequality, and lack of hospital beds have presented barriers to its pandemic strategy.

  • Debt/GDP ratio 87%
  • GDP/capita $17,016
  • Gini coefficient (out of 100) 53.9
  • Infant mortality rate (out of 1,000 live births) 13
  • Healthcare access score (out of 100) 64.9
  • Hospital beds/1,000 People 15.3

Government Response

Select a data point for more information
(Data points represent policy level as of Mar 15.)
30.7

Public Health Directives

Brazil has a weak score, due to low testing levels and a lax lockdown, including a relaxation of rules against public gatherings.

  • Stay at home order 2
  • Public gathering restrictions 3
  • School closings 3
  • Public event cancellations 2
  • Testing policy 1
  • Emergency healthcare investments/capita $705.69
  • Travel restrictions 1
  • Tests/1,000 people 30.2
  • Contact tracing 2
16.2

Financial Response

Brazil’s financial response has been relatively weak as compared to other countries, with little income support and a minimal stimulus package; even with the government authorizing a monthly $102 payment for informal workers, many were unable to receive the funds.

  • Financial stimulus as share of GDP 12%
  • Income support 0
  • Debt forebearance 0
64

Fact-Based Communication

President Bolsonaro has perpetuated misinformation about the coronavirus, including comparing it to a "mild flu" and claiming that social distancing and mask-wearing are not effective, but Brazil has not limited press freedom with respect to COVID-19.

  • Reliance on science/fact based information 3
  • Press freedom 0

COVID-19 Status as of Mar 15

Brazil has one of the highest rates of coronavirus cases, likely due to negligible health directives, poor public health response, and weak capacity before the virus hit.

  • Total deaths 66,849
  • Death rate per 100K 314.5
  • Total cases 11,519,609
  • Cases per 100K 1,841
  • Percent of positive tests NO DATA
Case Trend Line
Daily cases Level 1 Lockdown Level 2 Lockdown Level 3 Lockdown
Date Status New Cases/1M
1 Jun 10 Businesses start reopening in São Paulo 154.84
2 Jun 11 Malls start reopening in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro 143.08
3 Jan 13 Lockdown extended until February 7 286.50
4 Jan 28 44261 290.79

Differentiating Factors

Compared with Other Western Hemisphere Countries
  • 65.9
    Argentina 2,201,886
    Cases     102
    Per 1M     6,742
    Deaths

    Argentina’s strong policy score is mainly due to its strong political response, characterized by clear, fact-based communication and regular press briefings by President Fernandez.

  • 37.8
    Brazil 11,519,609
    Cases     1,841
    Per 1M     66,849
    Deaths

    Brazil has a relatively weak score, primarily due to its poor public health policies, especially its very low levels of testing, coupled with President Bolsonaro’s spreading of misinformation about the virus.

  • 63.3
    Canada 918,406
    Cases     30
    Per 1M     3,166
    Deaths

    Canada has a relatively strong score, with poor public health policy countered by a continued reliance on fact-based communication.

  • 19.9
    United States 29,495,424
    Cases     1,361
    Per 1M     55,333
    Deaths

    Still battling widespread COVID-19 cases and deaths, which were exacerbated by the former administration's limited use of facts and science, limited emergency healthcare spending, and limited debt relief, the Biden administration, by contrast, is taking aggressive action to combat the virus, although it may take time for the score to reflect these changes.

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New Zealand

Statistics and government response factors available on each country profile include:

Pre-COVID Conditions:

  • Debt to GDP ratio
  • Infant mortality rates
  • Hospital beds per 1,000 people
  • Gini coefficients measuring inequality
  • Health access and quality

COVID-19 Public Health Directives:

  • Stay-at home orders
  • School-closing policy
  • Public-gathering restrictions
  • Cancellation of public events
  • Testing policy and rates per 1,000 people
  • Emergency healthcare spending per capita
  • Travel restrictions
  • Contact tracing

COVID-19 Financial Response:

  • Stimulus package as a share of GDP
  • Income support
  • Debt-forbearance

Public Communications:

  • Instances of misinformation by leadership
  • Limitations on press freedom, censorship

Current/Historic In-Country COVID-19 Status:

  • Death rates per 1 million
  • Case rates per 1 million